The antitrust case between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports versus NASCAR finally made its way to the courtroom more than a year after the process began in fall 2024. The trial began on Monday, Dec. 1, and there is still much more planned for next week.
Our Frontstretch team has been at court each of the five days so far with detailed coverage from what’s taken place behind the doors.
Here’s a summary of what’s happened this week:
Monday, Dec. 1 (Day 1)
Jury selection occupied the first half of the day, as 30 potential candidates were narrowed down to nine.
The jury has been selected. 9 people were chosen out of over 30 candidates.
One person said he used to watch but now NASCAR is killing NASCAR. Judge Bell couldn’t cut him off fast enough and he was asked to leave. He pointed at MJ on the way out
— Michael Massie (@m_massie22) December 1, 2025
Jeffrey Kessler, representing the teams, began the deliberations with opening statements, aiming to set the foundation for their argument that NASCAR is a monopoly.
NASCAR’s John E. Stephenson then gave his opening statements, making the case that NASCAR offered a fair deal to the teams, leaning into the charter aspect of the disagreements.
The first witness of the trial to take the stand was Denny Hamlin, who began with questioning from the teams. Hamlin answered questions with his knowledge of his team’s financials.
The day ended before both sides could question Hamlin.
It’s gonna be a long two weeks https://t.co/qDTo9OlwKV
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) December 1, 2025
Tuesday, Dec. 2 (Day 2)
Hamlin returned for more questioning. This time the NASCAR side of things had the opportunity to cross-examine the driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing. Hamlin had plenty more quotes before a late break for lunch.
At one point Hamlin said he spoke rosy about #NASCAR in public because they have talking points they’re given and he gets called to the hauler if he says anything negative.
He was then asked if that meant people can’t believe anything he says publicly.
— Michael Massie (@m_massie22) December 2, 2025
In the second half of the day, NASCAR Chief Strategy Officer Scott Prime took the stand. His time as a witness also began with questioning from the teams, and it also carried into the following day.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 (Day 3)
Prime took the stand again, but his time as a witness included a lack of direct answers, as well as some discrepancies within his own knowledge of revenue sharing.
The general vibe of the Scott Prime testimony feels like it did not go well for #NASCAR. Turns out the Chief Strategy Officer gets paid $400k to staple papers and not know anything about any actual strategy. Either that or, you know, he wasn’t actually being honest on the stand.
— Michael Massie (@m_massie22) December 2, 2025
After another long morning session, Front Row Motorsports’ Bob Jenkins was called to the stand. He also went into his background, adding financial information from his perspective as team owner.
During NASCAR’s time of questioning, the jury seemed displeased with the questions directed toward Jenkins.
Before dismissing for the end of the day, Judge Kenneth D. Bell warned NASCAR’s defense team of violating two court rulings.
Thursday, Dec. 4 (Day 4)
As in previous days, Jenkins had not finished his testimony, so he had to return to the stand in the morning. Jenkins continued further with his discussion of costs of running a team, including the price tag on the Next Gen car being higher than expected.
Next to take the stand was Steve O’Donnell. Kessler, representing the teams, zeroed in on asking O’Donnell about NASCAR’s exclusivity with its racetracks, and the charter negotiation process.
Before releasing on the fourth day, Judge Bell told the sides the trial was “not on the pace we’re hoping for” due to the extensive questioning that occupied the first handful of days.
Before posting notes, I do want to put out Judge Bell did finally tell both sides things will need to start picking up a bit to meet the time limit. Sounds like some witnesses may need to be cut. I’ll post quotes about it here in a moment.#NASCAR #NASCOURT
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) December 4, 2025
Friday, Dec. 5 (Day 5)
O’Donnell went back to the stand in the morning, and the biggest topic from his return was the Camping World SRX Series and NASCAR’s concern that it was a threat.
O’Donnell says he felt SRX became a competitor when he saw Chase Elliott race the stylized No. 9 in the series.
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) December 5, 2025
Next up, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Heather Gibbs took the stand. During her time as witness, she shared that JGR would have lost its charters had they not signed the agreement.
Possibly the most anticipated witness of the trial, Michael Jordan, took his turn next. Jordan compared experiences of being a NASCAR team owner versus an NBA team owner.
A bigger crowd today for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin #NASCOURT #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ZnHmsjdFsB
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) December 5, 2025
Race Team Alliance Executive Director Jonathan Marshall was the final person to take the stand this week. From his position, Marshall had plenty of experience with the negotiations the teams went through, though he answered some questions more indirectly.
Caleb began sports writing in 2023 with The Liberty Champion, where he officially covered his first NASCAR race at Richmond in the spring. While there, Caleb met some of the guys from Frontstretch, and he joined the video editing team after graduating from Liberty University with degrees in Strategic Communications and Sports Journalism. Caleb currently work full-time as a Multi-Media Journalist with LEX 18 News in Lexington, Kentucky and contributes to Frontstretch with writing and video editing. He’s also behind-the-scenes or on camera for the Happy Hour Podcast, live every Tuesday night at 7:30!