“Just a Contractual Dispute!” NASCAR Commissioner Takes a Cheeky Dig at Michael Jordan’s Team Over Antitrust Lawsuit

The most senior official of NASCAR, Steve Phelps has shared his thoughts on the latest development on 23XI-FRM Charter lawsuit.

“Just a Contractual Dispute!” NASCAR Commissioner Takes a Cheeky Dig at Michael Jordan’s Team Over Antitrust Lawsuit

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan (via Newsweek), Steve Phelps (via Getty)

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The NASCAR community has been on their toes since 2024, after a 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports joined forces to file an anti-trust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. The most recent development in the court drama in the possibility that the teams is set to lose their charter from the Dover race week, after an appeal court side with NASCAR on injunction that all wed the teams to race as charter teams in 2025.

Amidst the recent development, NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps has shared his thoughts on the situation and called out the coalition between Michael Jordan and Bob Jenkins team. He branded the lawsuit as just a contract dispute and asserted that the teams are fighting against a deal that has already gave them the extra money they asked for.

I don’t know what’s gonna happen. The lawsuit is supposed to be an antitrust lawsuit. I don’t believe it’s an antitrust lawsuit. I think it’s just a contractual dispute. We had 13 of the 15 charter holders representing 32 teams sign. On balance, if there are winners and losers to the charter extension, I think the teams won.

Steve Phelps said via John Ourand of Puck.

Talking about the future of the dispute, he admitted that a settlement before it goes before a trial court in December this week is on the table. But he wants the teams to come forward with an offer instead of wasting time and mocked the group saying they don’t even know what they are exactly demanding with the lawsuit.

The number one thing the teams wanted was more money, which is exactly what we gave to them. We’re either gonna settle or we’re gonna go to court. Do I think we’d be willing to entertain a settlement? Yeah. To date, they have not come with anything. I don’t even know what their demands are. I don’t even know what they’re suing for.

Steve Phelps added.

NASCAR reportedly has plans to kill 23XI Racing and FRM

Following the recent lose in curt over the appeal and their plans for another hearing on the matter, 23XI Racing and FRM has filed another motion in the court. This times it is restraining order against the sanctioning body as the teams want them to be banned from attempting sell the five charters they are set to lose.

Michael Jordan secretly signed Fleer cards, raising their value
Michael Jordan secretly signed Fleer cards, raising their value (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

First, Plaintiffs’ entire businesses will be placed in jeopardy if they are forced to relinquish their charter rights during the middle of the Cup Series season prior to trial. As previously discussed, see supra p. 12, NASCAR has indicated that it has willing applicants for Plaintiffs’ charter rights and NASCAR intends to immediately reallocate or sell Plaintiffs’ charters if they become available.

Plaintiffs argued in the court.

It’s a rational demand considering the situation, as the business of the team is based on having the charters and they won’t be to run as open teams in the long-term. They will also won’t be able to get charters if they ever want to get back in the sport, considering the charter prize is increasing day by day with increased demand.

The drama over the court case is going to continue and will hurt both the team as well as the sport. The best result everyone could expect is a settlement outside the court, where both teams and NASCAR can make adjustment. But if it comes to a trial and a ruling, the sport as the racing community knows it is going to change forever.

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