Leaked texts have been wreaking havoc in the NASCAR world, from top executives trading shocking insults about Richard Childress to heated debates over Cup drivers competing in outside series.
While the fallout among fans has been explosive, the leaks have also offered a rare look into 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan’s long-term vision for his organization. And now, with the December 1 trial fast approaching, a newly uncovered exchange has raised the stakes even higher, revealing the bold $200 million charter ambition the NBA icon has been quietly pursuing, while his FRM allies shed their subtlety and reveal their true stance.
‘MJ’s People Are on a Different Level’ – Leak Reveals FRM GM’s Stance Amid NASCAR Legal Battle
As Matt Weaver’s recent report confirms, the long-rumored merger between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports wasn’t just idle chatter behind closed doors; it was very real.
Leaked correspondence reveals that 23XI and FRM were well into building a merger-style alliance that would integrate FRM into a stronger Toyota-backed operation led by MJ, Denny Hamlin, and Curtis Polk.
Under the proposed terms, both sides valued their charters at $12 million each. 23XI was set to acquire 80% of FRM’s Charter 26 for $9.6 million, while FRM would take a 20% stake in a 23XI charter for $2.4 million. But behind the paperwork and negotiations, another quiet exchange was unfolding, this one between FRM GM Jeremy Freeze and Xfinity Series team owner Jeremy Lange (Viking Motorsports).
According to the newly uncovered conversation, dated back to 2021, when the 23XI-FRM merger reports were at their peak, Lange asked Freeze, “You guys get your deal done?” In exchange, Freeze tells the NXS owner that the merger talks had become overly complicated, with too many people trying to define too many hypotheticals.
Lange joked about the chaos and admitted he still couldn’t believe Bob Jenkins might end up partnering with Hamlin and Jordan. To which the GM responds, “MJ’s people are a whole different level.”
“They really think the charters will be worth $200M once they use their “influence” on the next NASCAR/TV deal. I want to tell them the Hornets are riding the coattails of LeBron/Steph Curry and the NBA’s world marketing plan, not their stewardship of a low-level franchise,” his statement continued.
“They keep saying how they are going to increase our charter’s value once they run it and make Bob more money, but hell, they aren’t outrunning us now!”
Lange’s response sealed the sentiment between them – “My thoughts exactly. They truly don’t get it. It’s easy now while they have sponsorship. Without it they are no different than Rick Ware.”
Their exchange may have been born from miscommunication or simple frustration. Still, in today’s context, that very disconnect highlights the deeper fractures and disagreements, fractures now laid bare amid the escalating charter battle.
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