Michael Jordan is set to play a major front-facing role in the highly anticipated 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, which revolves around the new charter agreement (which neither team signed) and alleges \u201cmonopolistic\u201d behaviour on the organization\u2019s part.<\/p>\n
The NBA icon, who co-founded 23XI with Joe Gibbs Racing driver and longtime friend Denny Hamlin<\/a> in 2020, while the team began competing in the Cup Series<\/a> the following year, has been designated the team\u2019s \u201ccorporate representative\u201d for the trial in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/p>\n This could mean up to 10 days in court for Jordan<\/a>, as his side fights its corner, in part to retain its combined six charters from 2026 onward. However, he may yet be joined by co-owners Hamlin and Curtis Polk, with the team arguing their respective presences “are essential to [the] presentation of their case”. Depending on that ruling, however, it may be that only Jordan is allowed as the representative in the room for other witness testimony.\u00a0<\/p>\n 23XI\u2019s decision to ensure Jordan had a prominent role in the day-to-day proceedings was likely a strategic move by the team, believes Jeff Gluck<\/a>, who suggested their attorney, \u201cJeffrey Kessler obviously wants a jury of North Carolina residents to see Michael Jordan every day in the courtroom,\u201d given that he is a North Carolina Tar Heels legend.<\/p>\n Throughout the past year, both sides have experienced their wins and losses as the case worked its way towards its December conclusion. While both teams were ultimately stripped of their chartered status, NASCAR was forced to ensure race spots remain open for their six entries regardless through the end of the year.<\/p>\n Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.<\/a><\/p>\n Conversely, following a failure to reach a settlement at a hearing in Charlotte<\/a>, Judge Kenneth Bell sided with 23XI and FRM when it came to a countersuit filed by NASCAR<\/a>. This suit claimed Polk had illegally collaborated with other teams during negotiations that were ongoing regarding the new charter agreement.<\/p>\n The teams then enjoyed another win in November when Judge Bell agreed with the teams that NASCAR does indeed enjoy monopolistic power<\/a> in what was subsequently specifically defined as \u201cpremier stock car racing,\u201d adding, that it \u201cis effectively controlled by NASCAR and the trial will pertain to the control NASCAR has over it, rather than a wider definition that NASCAR believes, including F1 and IndyCar,\u201d via Jayski<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the latest developments in the ongoing drama, the pre-trial depositions have uncovered some far from flattering comments made by NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps regarding Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Childress, labeling him \u201can idiot\u201d and \u201ca redneck.\u201d In a strongly worded statement responding to the messages, Childress\u2019 team is said to be considering legal action.<\/p>\n