Michael Jordan’s ongoing battle with NASCAR reached federal court on Monday in a jury trial that could reshape the motorsport series. Antitrust accusations from Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have unearthed revealing personal communications, sensitive NASCAR financials, and simmering tensions between league executives and competitors.
But is NASCAR really a monopoly? Veteran insider Bob Pockrass broke it down in a short but informative post on social media.
Does Bob Pockrass Think NASCAR Is a Monopoly?
In a recent social media post, Pockrass cut through the noise with a critical fact: a judge has already ruled that NASCAR operates as a monopoly when it comes to purchasing the services of premier stock-car racing teams.
This isn’t speculation or opinion: it’s a legal determination that has already been made in court. However, this doesn’t address the core issue of 23XI and FRM’s lawsuit against NASCAR.
It doesn’t say NASCAR is or isn’t acting anti-competitively; it just highlights that the sport has no direct counterpart in America.
This distinction matters enormously. Being a monopoly isn’t automatically illegal. Many businesses maintain dominant market positions through innovation, efficiency, or simply being the first or best in their respective fields.
What crosses the line into illegality is the use of anticompetitive practices, such as unfair contract terms, exclusionary agreements, or predatory business tactics, to gain or preserve monopoly power.
“I am seeing a lot of reaction about such-and-such proves NASCAR is a monopoly,” Pockrass wrote on X.
“The judge already has ruled NASCAR is a monopoly when it comes to buying the services of premier stock-car racing teams. The jury will decide if they used anticompetitive tactics to have that monopoly,” he added.
The outcome of NASCAR’s legal battle with 23XI and FRM could have significant implications for the future operation of NASCAR.
If the jury finds that anticompetitive tactics were employed, NASCAR could face substantial penalties and might be required to restructure certain business practices, potentially affecting everything from charter agreements to revenue distribution.
For teams, this case represents a pivotal moment in their relationship with NASCAR. The lawsuit stems from concerns about the charter system, revenue sharing, and the leverage NASCAR holds in negotiations.
The lawsuit was brought by 23XI Racing, owned by Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Jordan’s longtime business partner, Curtis Polk. Front Row Motorsports, led by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins and the winner of the 2021 Daytona 500, joined the filing. Both teams were the only ones among 15 to reject the charter renewal deals NASCAR offered in late 2024.
Every team had been working for over two years to secure improved charter conditions, yet the final proposal fell short. That frustration led 23XI and Front Row to accuse NASCAR of monopolistic practices and take the issue to court under antitrust law.