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NASCAR is not backing down from Michael Jordan after he and others sued the series alleging anti-competitive practices.
In fact, it now appears that NASCAR is going on the offensive against Jordan, his 23XI Racing co-owners and Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins.
NASCAR’s latest court filing calls the lawsuit “meritless” and threatens to strip the two teams of their charters for the 2025 season according to Toby Chrisite of SI.com.
“Plaintiffs have filed a meritless suit against NASCAR alleging baseless antitrust claims in order to obtain commercial agreements they previously rejected, and to attempt to extort more favorable contract terms,” the filing reads in part.
The series also alleges that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports are attempting “to use the antitrust discovery process as a weapon.”
NASCAR Threatens To Revoke Michael Jordan’s Charters For 2025 Season
NASCAR agreed to a new charter agreement for 2025 and beyond with 13 of the 15 current charter-holding teams on the grid. But 23XI and FRM did not sign the agreement, and many teams that did claimed that they were strong-armed by the series.
All charter-owning teams are guaranteed a spot on the grid for each NASCAR Cup Series race for each charter that they down. Both 23XI and FRM currently own two charters. But both teams reported also purchased an additional charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is set to fold after the 2024 season.
“The deadline for Plaintiffs to sign 2025 Charter Agreements expired weeks ago, and NASCAR has taken steps, consistent with its contractual obligations to other Charter Teams, to plan for a season with only 32 Charters,” the latest filing states. “Plaintiffs do not need these Charter Agreements to race, and indeed have stated publicly that they will be racing in NASCAR regardless”
Both 23XI and Front Row Motorsports will likely continue with or without charters in 2025. But NASCAR threatening to revoke the teams’ charters might only serve to strengthen their antitrust claims.
23XI driver Tyler Reddick is also one of just eight drivers remaining in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.