NASCAR Sued by 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France, claiming anti-competitive practices that undermine fair competition within the sport. The lawsuit, lodged in the Western District of North Carolina, arises from a dispute over NASCAR's charter system, which both teams refused to sign after negotiations broke down. Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI, and Denny Hamlin, a prominent critic, voiced their frustrations over NASCAR's monopolistic behavior, stating that the current system is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. The lawsuit seeks significant changes to NASCAR's practices, including a preliminary injunction to allow the teams to race under the 2025 charters during the litigation. This legal action follows threats from NASCAR to eliminate the charter system if teams did not sign a proposed agreement, prompting the two teams to respond with this lawsuit. Experts believe that this case could lead to transformative changes in NASCAR similar to those witnessed in other professional sports.