Michael Jordan appears in court after suing NASCAR in antitrust dispute

Retired basketball superstar Michael Jordan appeared in federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday after he and two of his co-owners of a NASCAR team filed a lawsuit against the auto racing association over 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 and listened intently as antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler filed for an injunction barring the former Bulls star’s team from the would allow participation in racing and at the same time calls into question NASCAR’s business model.

Jordan’s team 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, owned by restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, filed a lawsuit against NASCAR and Chairman Jim France last month after months of tense negotiations over NASCAR’s charter system.

The two teams say NASCAR made a last-minute, take-it-or-leave-it offer to all Cup Series teams in September that both 23XI and Front Row refused to sign.

The owners claim the charter system limits competition by unfairly tying teams to the series, its tracks and its suppliers, and they call the French family and NASCAR “monopolistic tyrants.”

The two teams are represented by Kessler, the country’s top antitrust lawyer, who has repeatedly argued that they are only seeking an injunction that would allow them to compete without the clause that would bar their ongoing lawsuit.

He said NASCAR has since withdrawn the charter contracts offered in September 23XI and FRM.

“We are not questioning the entire charter agreement. “We want a return to the status quo,” said Kessler.

“We are not looking for a dispute lasting seven to 14 years. Let us operate on the terms they offer for the duration of the (court) case and operate under the charter conditions for the duration of the case.”

Kessler said NASCAR is fighting the injunction because NASCAR doesn’t believe there is a winning case.

The battle continues as NASCAR heads into its championship weekend. The title-deciding race takes place in Phoenix on Sunday, with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick among the four drivers in line to win.

After a nearly two-hour hearing, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney said he would make a decision by Friday on 23XI and FRM’s request for a preliminary injunction to be recognized as chartered teams in 2025 – when the cars will arrive in Phoenix track to begin preparations for the title-deciding race.

Jordan said he did not believe the litigation would affect 23XI’s efforts to win the championship with Reddick.

“No, I have been in situations of inequality. “I think the race team will be focused on what they have to do this weekend and that’s what I expect from them,” Jordan said.

“I think Jeffrey did an incredible job today and I think I put all my cards on the table. I’m looking forward to winning a championship this weekend.”

At issue before the court is 23XI and FRM’s request to be released from a clause in NASCAR’s agreement that prohibits teams from suing the sanctioning body.

Both teams have said they will operate as “open” teams in 2025 unless they receive the injunction, but even that agreement prevents them from suing NASCAR.

Additionally, an “open” team is not guaranteed a spot in the weekly 40-car field, does not receive the same revenue as chartered teams, and its drivers and sponsors could potentially leave the team because of their association with unprotected chartered teams.

The charter system began in 2016 and has now been extended twice, with contracts signed by 13 organizations running from 2025 to 2031.

With post wires