Federal Judge Urges NASCAR, 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports to Settle Antitrust Dispute

A federal judge has urged NASCAR and two of its teams, including 23XI Racing co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row Motorsports, to settle their ongoing antitrust lawsuit out of court due to the high costs and uncertain outcomes of prolonged litigation. The dispute involves NASCAR's charter system, a franchise-like model guaranteeing teams entry to Cup Series races and revenue sharing, with 23XI and Front Row being the only teams refusing to sign a new charter agreement presented in September 2024. NASCAR's countersuit accuses Jordan's business manager Curtis Polk of orchestrating anticompetitive behavior by attempting to rally all 15 charter teams to collectively reject individual negotiations, likened by NASCAR to forming a "cartel." During the hearing, Judge Kenneth Bell emphasized the difficulty in picturing a winner should the case continue and expressed concern over the escalating costs. Attorneys for the racing teams denied any illegal conduct by Polk, arguing that NASCAR's claims lack evidence. The judge pressured both sides to reconsider their approaches and seek a resolution to avoid further legal battles.