NASCAR
23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports Challenging NASCAR in Federal Antitrust Court
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Announced Wednesday, a federal antitrust case has been brought against NASCAR by two active Cup Series race teams. 23XI Racing, co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and racing veteran Denny Hamlin, has teamed up with Front Row Motorsports. Both are accusing the sanctioning body of perceived illegal monopoly tactics.
The suit was filed in the Western District of North Carolina, and challenges NASCAR’s owning France family of being “monopolistic bullies. And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.”
This legal action follows two years of back-and-forth negotiations between the teams and NASCAR on an updated revenue sharing charter agreement. The current deal, first enacted in 2016, expires at the end of this calendar year. 23XI and Front Row were the only two of 15 total Cup Series organizations to not sign the updated agreement presented on Sept. 6.
The lawsuit states that 23XI and FRM aspire to learn more about NASCAR and the France family’s actions “related to their exclusionary practices and intent to insulate themselves from any competition.” Renowned antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler has been hired by the two race teams to represent them in the ongoing proceedings. Kessler is known for helping establish Name, Image, and Likeness laws within college sports, and assisting the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team in earning equal pay.
Kessler has also filed an injunction for both 23XI and FRM to continue competing as chartered teams for the duration of this case.
“Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track,” said Jordan. “I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.”
NASCAR has not released any responding comment since this news went public. This story will be updated.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Logan Riely/Getty Images and TSJSports
