NASCAR Countersues Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports Amid Charter Dispute
23XI Racing, co-owned by billionaire Michael Jordan (as reported by Celebrity Net Worth), and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) have encountered another obstacle in their ongoing legal battle with NASCAR. The case took a significant turn on Wednesday, March 5, when court filings revealed that NASCAR had filed a countersuit against both racing teams, naming Jordan’s longtime business associate, Curtis Polk, as a defendant.
NASCAR’s Countersuit and Allegations
The legal dispute centers around NASCAR’s charter system. After 23XI Racing and FRM declined to sign the new charter agreement, they filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. A preliminary injunction allowed them to retain their charters for the 2025 season, with the trial set for later this year.
On March 5, NASCAR responded by countersuing the two teams, accusing Polk of deliberately violating antitrust laws by orchestrating boycotts during the negotiation process. According to NASCAR’s counterclaim, Polk played a key role in leading “anticompetitive collective conduct” in response to the 2025 charter agreements.
NASCAR has labeled 23XI and FRM as part of an “illegal cartel,” with attorney Chris Yates repeatedly asserting that the Race Team Alliance (RTA) engaged in cartel-like behavior during negotiations. While several teams were part of these discussions, only 23XI Racing and FRM have been named in the lawsuit, as other teams signed the new charter agreement.
The countersuit seeks triple damages and calls for the removal of guaranteed starting spots for both teams if they continue their legal challenge against NASCAR.
NASCAR Stands Firm Against Renegotiation
NASCAR attorney Chris Yates dismissed the claims made by 23XI Racing and FRM, arguing that they were “misusing” antitrust laws and making unfounded monopolization allegations in an attempt to force a renegotiation. He made it clear that NASCAR has no intention of altering the 2025 charter agreement.
“We believe 23XI and Front Row are misusing antitrust laws with baseless monopolization claims in an effort to pressure NASCAR into renegotiation,” Yates stated in comments reported by Fox Sports. “That’s not going to happen. We will, however, participate in the court-ordered mediation process.”
Yates also pointed out that, under the new charter agreement, teams would receive 49% of revenue from NASCAR’s $1.1 billion per year media rights deal, an increase from the previous 38-40% share. He further suggested that NASCAR does not necessarily need the charter system, as it provides minimal benefits to the organization. If necessary, he stated, NASCAR could revert to a model with open-entry cars.
The legal battle continues to intensify, with both sides standing firm in their positions as the trial approaches later this year.
