NASCAR: Michael Jordan racing team colluded with 2nd team as an ‘illegal cartel’
In a counterclaim to a federal antitrust lawsuit in Charlotte, NASCAR on Wednesday excoriated Michael Jordan’s 23XI racing team and Front Row Motorsports as an “illegal cartel” that violated anti-trust laws.
Huntersville-based 23XI and Mooresville-based Front Row filed an antitrust lawsuit on Oct. 2 against NASCAR and chairman Jim France. They were the only two teams that refused to sign NASCAR’s final offer of a new charter, or franchise, agreement. Through their lawsuit, the teams hope to boost the revenue and influence of teams.
The lawsuit alleges that the sport’s founding France family, which owns the stock car series, represents a monopoly. In late November, the teams filed a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction against NASCAR, citing imminent irreparable harm.
On Wednesday, NASCAR fired back.
“In trying to blow-up the Charter system, 23XI and FRM have sought to weaponize the antitrust laws to achieve their goals,” according to NASCAR’s counterclaim.
During a media conference call, NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates elaborated on the sport’s stance in the case:
“NASCAR will defend the sport and preserve the exceptional competition that has helped make it one of the most exciting forms of motorsports in the world,” Yates said, according to a transcript of the call.
“NASCAR has consistently said that strong race teams are essential to our mutual success,” Yates said. “That’s why, when teams came to NASCAR in 2014 and said we want a charter system, NASCAR listened, it negotiated over the terms of what became the 2016 charter over an extended period of time.”
NASCAR wants the court to triple damages and let the series eliminate guaranteed starting positions for 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, if the teams persist with their lawsuit.
NASCAR doesn’t need its charter system, lawyer says
Yates said the charter system provides little benefit to NASCAR and, while NASCAR is “happy” to continue the system, it would discontinue charters if needed.
“NASCAR doesn’t need the charter system,” he said. Teams wanted it, and the most recent agreement “is fair and equitable.”
“In a true monopoly ... what you would see is NASCAR imposing terms that drive down compensation to teams,” Yates said. “That’s the opposite of what’s happened.”
The lawsuit against the stock car circuit “is just economically invalid and legally invalid,” Yates said. That’s because teams “would not be receiving ever-increasing percentages of media rights revenues if this were a true monopoly situation.”
This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM with the headline "NASCAR: Michael Jordan racing team colluded with 2nd team as an ‘illegal cartel’."