On Wednesday, basketball legend Michael Jordan and other stock-car team owners were successful in persuading a judge to order NASCAR to reserve key spots for its drivers in the upcoming 2025 season.
The request from Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing was partially approved by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of Charlotte, North Carolina, after another judge denied it last month. Jordan is notably a co-owner of 23XI Racing. The lawsuit, which was filed against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France in October, claims that the teams were subjected to restrictive conditions that violated U.S. antitrust laws.
While they pursued their legal claims, NASCAR had been refusing these teams the chance to compete as “chartered” members, which would have ensured their participation in the next NASCAR Cup Series races. The teams would have had to compete for “open” race slots as a result.
The recent decision allows Front Row Motorsports and 23XI to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series as chartered teams using their current vehicles. The plaintiffs had provided fresh evidence, the judge observed, showing that drivers’ contracts were being disrupted and the teams’ corporate sponsorships were being impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the 2025 season.
Bell’s decision is only applicable to the 2025 season, and NASCAR has refuted any wrongdoing claims. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, reaffirmed their dedication to making sure racing thrives as a more competitive and equitable sport and expressed confidence in the strength of their case. In order for the plaintiff teams’ cars to compete as chartered members in 2025, Bell’s decision also requires NASCAR to authorize their purchase of a charter from another racing organization. The racing community has taken notice of Michael Jordan’s NASCAR endeavor, 23XI Racing.
The basketball legend and driver Denny Hamlin is a co-owner of the team, which was founded in 2020 and immediately became well-known. An important turning point in the sport was Jordan’s admission into NASCAR, which brought a well-known personality from the basketball world to the stock car racing scene. With competitive results and solid alliances, including with major sponsor Toyota, 23XI Racing has shown promise. By combining his legendary sports influence with the excitement of racing, Jordan’s involvement has helped NASCAR draw in a larger fan base.
