Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin at Talladega | Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin said of the owners, ‘My despise of the France family runs deep’
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Michael Jordan dominated the NBA in the 1980s and 1990s, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. He forever changed fashion with his Nike Air Jordan sneaker line. When he took on Hollywood with his Space Jam, remains the highest grossing basketball film for decades. He first invested in a sports team in 2006, buying a stake in Charlotte’s NBA team. His latest investment, 23XI racing is a NASCAR team. But while his drivers go wheel-to-wheel with other cars, Jordan is taking on NASCAR llc itself.
Each racing team must have a charter from NASCAR to compete. NASCAR CEO Jim France (son of Association founder Bill France) is against these charters becoming permanent. When the Association presented a “take it or leave it” non-permanent charter agreement for 2025, in the midst of the 2024 season, teams reported feeling “threatened and coerced” into signing it.
Michael Jordan refused to sign. bob Jenkins’ of Front Row Motorsports stood with him. But every other team caved. When Jordan learned Gibbs signed he texted “F—-ers!!!!” and “Teams are going to regret not supporting us. P—ies!!!!!!” His 23XI team, along with Front Row Motorsports, is hiring NASCAR with an antitrust lawsuit claiming the Association is monopolistic.
Jordan’s co-owner, Denny Hamlin, said, “I’m in for the fight with NASCAR. My despise of the France family runs deep, but whatever we do, please lets not sabotage our own business over principle.”
Jordan, whose net worth is estimated at over $3 billion, appears willing to go to war for the principle of it. “If I have to fight this to the end for the betterment of the sport, I will do it.”
A divide in NASCAR leadership
As part of the trial, the defendants and plaintiffs have subpoenaed certain communication, such as Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s texts quoted above. Some of the most inflammatory texts come from a group chat with members of NASCAR leadership. Someone had just spoken to Executive Vice Chairwoman Lesa France-Kennedy. Someone summarized Lesa France-Kennedy’s counter-offer for the teams as “here is a bit more money, f— off everywhere else.” Translation: No permanent charters.
Lesa France-Kennedy had reportedly said this approach was “getting us close” to a deal. In the group chat, NASCAR President O’Donnel said “Close to a comfortable 1996, f– the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport.”