For both NASCAR and 23XI Racing, the antitrust lawsuit and countersuit are both personal matters in addition to business.
The race team owned by Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan and his longtime business partner Curtis Polk sued the Sanctioning Body and its CEO Jim France (alongside Front Row Motorsports) last fall on allegations that it is acting in violation of federal antitrust regulations.
Since then, earlier this month, NASCAR countersued the teams and Polk on grounds that they conspired in a way that was also a violation of federal antitrust laws. Both lawsuits are set to go to trial on December 1.
In filing the countersuit, NASCAR stated that Polk was an outside who ‘didn’t understand the business of NASCAR’ despite leaning on him for his outside perspective when 23XI first entered the Cup Series in 2021.
Jordan took NASCAR’s countersuit personally according to the Associated Press.
“Curtis and MJ stand united,” a spokeswoman told the AP. “His perspective is if you are coming after Curtis, you are coming after him. He doesn’t look at this as just business. It’s personal.”
NASCAR then told the AP, in a rare statement about the lawsuit outside of one countersuit press conference, that the two teams made ‘made it personal’ when they specifically named France as a defendant.
Lawsuit timeline
23XI Racing, Front Row decline to sign NASCAR’s final 2025-2031 charter document
Why 23XI, Front Row filed a lawsuit against NASCAR
23XI, Front Row makes his case in antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR
Richard Childress says he had ‘no choice’ but to sign charter document
How drivers feel about the lawsuit
Michael Jordan comments on his team’s lawsuit against NASCAR
Meet NASCAR’s antitrust defense lawyer
NASCAR files injunction to be included in charter system through lawsuit
NASCAR motions against team’s preliminary injunction request
NASCAR, teams consent to redacting charter details in filings
Teams make case for injunctive relief, expedited discovery
NASCAR’s lengthy rebuttal to injunction, lawsuit
Teams respond to NASCAR response over injunction
23XI, Front Row and NASCAR go to court over injunctions
Judge rules against teams preliminary injunction request
Denny Hamlin says 23XI may not race next year
What preliminary injunction denial means for lawsuit
NASCAR drops ‘lawsuit release clause’ in open agreement
Appeal timeline rebuttal filed by NASCAR
Why 23XI may not have to race in the Clash without charters
Teams drop appeal, may re-file in district court
23XI, Front Row re-file injunction request
NASCAR opposes expedited timeline
France, NASCAR motion to dismiss, deny SHR charter transfer request
NASCAR says injunctive request still fails to show irreparable harm
Teams say NASCAR went back on its word over SHR charters
23XI, Front Row respond to NASCAR’s motion to dismiss
Judge orders NASCAR to issue charters to 23XI, Front Row
NASCAR plans to appeal injunction ruling; other details
Judge grants partial stay of injunction in blunt response to NASCAR
Teams accuse NASCAR of petulance in response to delay request
Why Judge Bell did not delay his injunction order
NASCAR wants 23XI, FRM to post bond covering 2025 charter pay
Both sides meet in court to argue motion to dismiss, bond payment
Judge rules against NASCAR’s motion to dismiss, trial on schedule
Injunction appeal formally filed by NASCAR
NASCAR files counterclaim
Why NASCAR is counter-suing the teams
Teams accuse NASCAR of ‘overblown rhetoric and hyperbole’
