Ed Carpenter Racing’s multi-million dollar lawsuit against former sponsor Todd Ault and his related businesses has been dismissed with prejudice, ending the legal battle between the two parties. The case was dismissed by a judge in Marion County Superior Court, Indiana, after ruling that neither the sponsorship agreement nor the personal guarantee signed by Ault existed as valid, enforceable contracts due to a lack of necessary signatures and formal execution.
ECR had sought approximately $10 million, alleging money owed for sponsor commitments in the 2024 IndyCar season. However, emails exchanged between the parties were ruled insufficient to establish a binding contract. The judge also found no contractual obligation on Ault’s companies, including VForward2 and RiskOn International, which featured logos on the ECR cars.
The dismissal means the lawsuit cannot be refiled, but ECR retains the right to appeal the decision. The sponsorship dispute arose after Ault’s involvement with ECR ended in 2024, coinciding with the introduction of new ownership and sponsorship from Ted Gelov’s Heartland Foods.
Todd Ault remains active in motorsport sponsorship with other teams, including Dale Coyne Racing and Meyer Shank Racing, and has expressed hopes of an amicable resolution with ECR despite the legal setback.
The case highlights the complexities of sponsorship contracts in motorsports, especially amid shifting team ownership and commercial arrangements. For now, ECR will move forward without any financial recovery from Ault or his businesses through this lawsuit.
