Did NASCAR just witness a calm before the storm? For some time now, 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, has been vocal about their opposition to NASCAR’s charter agreement. Despite their resistance, no major developments occurred for a while. Both Jordan and Hamlin’s team refused to sign the deal, but NASCAR showed no interest in negotiating their demands. Alongside 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) also chose not to sign the agreement, waiting for a better deal. However, despite their patience, no favorable resolution has come their way.
The deadline for teams to agree to the charter deal was September 6th, and now, nearly a month has passed without any change. Neither 23XI Racing nor Front Row Motorsports has shown any signs of backing down. In fact, the situation has escalated into a legal battle. Without agreeing to the charter, both teams stand to lose significant revenue from TV rights. As a result, they have taken drastic action, filing a federal antitrust lawsuit against both NASCAR and the France family, which has sparked excitement among fans. Many are eager to see someone finally stand up to the governing body, with much anticipation about how the situation will unfold.
The charter issue has heated up as 23XI Racing and NASCAR remain at an impasse. According to NASCAR officials, they cannot negotiate with these two teams because the rest of the grid has already aligned with the terms. Although some other teams, such as Hendrick Motorsports, have expressed dissatisfaction with the deal, they chose to sign it anyway to avoid complications down the road.
However, Michael Jordan isn’t following suit. Instead, he’s doubling down. In the lawsuit, the teams argue that “the France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies, and bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.” This entire controversy stems from Jordan, Hamlin, and the owners of FRM believing that the new charter system restricts teams by effectively binding them to NASCAR with limited options for leverage or autonomy.
To strengthen their legal stance, the teams have enlisted Jeffery Kessler, a well-known antitrust attorney. They are seeking specific information from NASCAR “related to their exclusionary practices and intent to insulate themselves from any competition.” Michael Jordan, being a high-caliber athlete with a competitive mindset, is displeased with how 23XI Racing is being treated, and he has no intention of letting this issue slide. While things had calmed down somewhat with the start of the playoffs, the team is now back on the offensive as Denny Hamlin’s performance in the playoffs has given them more breathing room to take action.
In their lawsuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports maintain their position, stating: “The France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies. And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.” Many fans have expressed their frustration with how the teams are being treated and have begun to rally behind Jordan and his cause. When news of the lawsuit broke on social media platform X, fans flooded the comment sections with support, making it clear that they want NASCAR and the France family to hear their dissatisfaction as well. The majority of fans sided with the lawsuit, showing how strongly 23XI Racing and FRM supporters feel about this situation.
Fans have been buzzing with excitement over the news of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports taking legal action against NASCAR. One fan, clearly craving some sports drama, commented, “This will be fun to follow,” indicating that the playoff excitement pales in comparison to the spectacle of two teams taking on the entire organization.
While many teams yielded to NASCAR’s pressure, one fan showed respect for the two teams’ refusal to cave, saying, “Respect to 23XI and Front Row for having the balls to do this. Someone had to stand up to Jim France and NASCAR’s b—h a–es.” The frankness of this comment makes it clear that the fan is far from pleased with NASCAR and the France family’s treatment of these teams.
A more seasoned fan, who has been following the sport for over 25 years, added, “As a 25+ year NASCAR fan, this is the best thing I have ever read.” Clearly, this fan is taking delight in watching the teams challenge the big, powerful organization they have followed for so long. While they still love the sport, it seems they have grievances with the people in charge and how they manage the series.
Another fan threw their support behind 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, stating simply, “Good. I hope they win against NASCAR.” This fan, like many others, is clearly unhappy with NASCAR’s efforts to force the teams into accepting the charter agreement, and they are hoping the governing body will lose in court.
However, not all fans see this as a winning strategy. One fan, looking at the situation from a more pragmatic angle, predicted, “23XI will lose money. NASCAR will lose money, and lawyers get new yachts and summer homes.” In their view, both sides will end up losing financially, while the lawyers come out the real winners.
With this lawsuit now in motion, what do you think? Have 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports made the right decision in taking on NASCAR, or will this move backfire? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Michael Jordan’s & Co Stand Against France Family, Earning NASCAR Fans’ Support in Legal Standoff”
