Richard Childress: 'I didn't have a choice' but to sign NASCAR's new charter agreement

As the NASCAR world focuses on the antitrust suit brought against the sanctioning body by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, another team owner is speaking out.

Richard Childress, the owner of Richard Childress Racing since 1969, spoke with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass on Saturday morning regarding the chaotic nature of the charter negotiations.

After the dust from the signing settled on Sept. 6 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Associated Press reported that teams were "coerced and threatened" into signing the agreement — phrasing that made it clear that team owners didn't have the necessary time or resources to fully understand what the agreement entailed.

"We got our docusign that evening (Sept. 6) at 6:37, and we had to sign it by 12 o'clock or we'd lose our charters," Childress said. "I didn't have a choice. We had to sign. I have over 400 employees, OEM contracts, contracts with sponsors, and I have to take care of my team."

Childress isn't the first big-name team owner to speak on the issue, as Rick Hendrick told the media that he signed the agreement because he was "just tired."

The signing of the agreement came at the tail end of a season where the negotiations — or lack thereof — had been a major talking point, with team owners frequently being asked about the status of the charter agreement.

Childress was also asked if he was "happy" if the teams are taking a stand against NASCAR — something he would know about, as his team was caught up in a widely publicized appeal after Austin Dillon's controversial win at Richmond in August.

"Bob, I don't know how you phrase 'happy' on this," Childress said. "I would just say that I don't think we can join (the lawsuit). It's way too early to talk about all the legal stuff. NASCAR hasn't even came back with an answer. I'm sure they're looking at antitrust attorneys. I know they are."

If 23XI and Front Row were to win the suit, Childress isn't 100 percent sure that financial compensation will be spread evenly among NASCAR's teams.

"I think it (financial compensation) will be by the law," Childress said. "We don't have a favored nation in our charter agreement, which is not fair to me. Everyone should be treated equal. How do I know that they're not going to give somebody a bigger restrictor plate, or how I will I know they're not going to pay someone $20 million more dollars than me? We don't know without a favored nation."

Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega will be the first Cup Series race since the suit was brought forth on Wednesday morning.