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Michael Jordan expressed his confidence on Sunday regarding the antitrust lawsuit filed by his 23XI Racing team against NASCAR in federal court. He stated to The Athletic, “I wouldn’t have filed it if I didn’t think I could win.”
Jordan made these remarks prior to Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, where he was on the pit box for 23XI driver Bubba Wallace. The lawsuit, filed jointly with Front Row Motorsports, accuses NASCAR of operating as a monopoly and employing “anticompetitive and exclusionary practices” to “enrich themselves at the expense of the premier stock car racing teams.”
NASCAR, for its part, has refrained from commenting on the situation. The organization has not publicly responded since the lawsuit was filed, nor did it issue a statement when 23XI and Front Row declined to sign the charter agreement in September.
NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, acknowledged reporters' inquiries but opted not to comment when approached in the garage area on Sunday. “Excited about our championship battles and looking forward to a fantastic race today,” France remarked.
According to court records, 23XI and Front Row plan to seek a preliminary injunction in federal court around October 8. Charters in NASCAR serve as a form of franchise, ensuring entry into each race and providing greater access to race winnings and funds from the season-long points fund compared to non-chartered teams.
Why did Michael Jordan file a lawsuit?
An auto racing team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and its CEO, Jim France. The legal action was initiated by Jordan's 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in the Western District of North Carolina, specifically in Charlotte, where Jordan also part-owns the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
The lawsuit claims that NASCAR and the France family operate without transparency, hinder competition, and dominate stock car racing in ways that unfairly advantage them at the expense of team owners, drivers, sponsors, partners, and fans.
“Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track. I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins, "Jordan said in a statement
