23XI Racing co-owner Curtis Polk calls out NASCAR for 'predatory practices'
While it appears multiple teams have signed a charter agreement with NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are holding out. Team co-owner Curtis Polk has been very outspoken recently.
Last week he had a sign on his back taking a dig at NASCAR for a non-disparagement clause they reportedly added to the charter negotiation. This week, we find out that 23XI Racing is leading a charge against the agreement that was signed by teams on Friday night.
Polk spoke to Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press. He even had notes with him to keep him on message.
“The contract offer took away essential rights, and we believe that all teams, including those who signed, may not have been given a true opportunity to negotiate or fully understand the implications of the contract terms,” Polk explained.
“This isn’t the 1960s and these predatory practices do not withstand scrutiny,” the team co-owner went on further.
“NASCAR has consistently refused to deal with 23XI – these negotiations, we are David facing Goliath. NASCAR has superior bargaining power and undue influence over the sport and the charter process.”
Those comments are not comforting if you are NASCAR. If you are one of the teams that signed the agreement, this doesn’t sound great. 23XI Racing is not going into this blind. While they only have Front Row on their side at this point, it might be enough.
The language in that last sentence from Polk is telling. It sounds like there could be a threat of legal action taken, or maybe it is all smoke. Either way, I don’t think NASCAR saw this coming when they entered negotiations for 2025-2031 last year.
23XI Racing daring NASCAR to take charters
At this point, it feels like 23XI Racing is waiting for NASCAR to make a move. A very specific move. It feels like they want the sanctioning body to try and take away their charters. Of course, what they really want is for NASCAR to negotiate with them in what they consider is a fair manner.
It is clear that there is a chasm between 23XI and NASCAR. They are both in these negotiations with their own interests and needs. With Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk at 23XI, they have two people who have dealt in other professional sports as owners.
In 2011, the Charlotte Observer called Polk the “most powerful person in the Charlotte Bobcats [now Hornets] organization…” These guys have been around the block a few times.
Right now, things are up in the air. We don’t know what 23XI Racing is planning for the future. We also don’t know how NASCAR is going to react in the coming days. Is this the start of something major in the sport?