Retired basketball superstar Michael Jordan appeared in federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday as he and two fellow NASCAR team owners filed a lawsuit against the Auto Racing Association for alleged antitrust violations.
Jordan, who co-owns 23XI Racing with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, sat in the front row of the gallery as antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler cleared the former Bulls star's team to compete. I listened intently as he asked for an injunction. We will race while challenging NASCAR's business model.
Jordan's team, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, owned by restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, signed a contract with NASCAR last month after months of tense negotiations over NASCAR's charter system. A lawsuit was filed against the French chairman.
According to both teams, NASCAR made last-minute offers to all Cup Series teams in September, and the 23XI and Front Row declined to sign.
The owners argued that the charter system restricts competition by unfairly tying teams to series, courses and suppliers, calling the French family and NASCAR “monopolistic bullies.”
Kessler, the nation's top antitrust lawyer who represents both teams, has repeatedly maintained that he is simply seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow competition without a clause blocking ongoing litigation.
He said NASCAR has withdrawn the charter agreement it offered 23XI and FRM in September.
“We are not contesting the charterparty in its entirety. We want a return to the status quo,” Kessler said.
“We're not looking for seven to 14 years of arguments. Let the (courts) operate on the terms they offer during the litigation period and compete on the charter terms during the litigation period. ”
Kessler said NASCAR is fighting the injunction because it does not believe it has a winnable case.
The battle is on as NASCAR heads into championship weekend, with the title deciding race scheduled for Sunday in Phoenix, with 23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick among the four drivers likely to win. It is.
After a hearing that lasted nearly two hours, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney said he expected to rule by Friday on 23XI and FRM's request for a preliminary injunction to be recognized as a charter team in 2025. Ta. Preparations for the title deciding match begin.
Jordan said the legal battle will not detract from 23XI's efforts to win a championship with Reddick.
“No, I've been in a disparity situation. I think the race team will focus on what they have to do this weekend, and I expect them to do that,” Jordan said.
“I think Jeffrey did an unbelievable job today and I think we put all our cards on the table. I'm looking forward to winning the championship this weekend.”
At issue in court are 23XI and FRM's request to be released from a clause in the NASCAR agreement that prohibits teams from suing sanctioning bodies.
Both teams have said they will operate as an “open” team in 2025 unless they get an injunction, but even that agreement prevents them from suing NASCAR.
Additionally, “open” teams are not guaranteed a weekly field of 40 cars, do not earn the same amount of revenue as charter teams, and have drivers and sponsors on unprotected charter teams. There is a possibility that he will leave because of this.
The charter system began in 2016 and has now been extended twice, with the agreement signed by 13 organizations set to run from 2025 to 2031.
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