NASCAR insider reveals massive risk taken by Michael Jordan, 23XI after new court hearing

Representatives from both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports arrived at federal court in Charlotte Monday for a preliminary injunction hearing in their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, in which they accused the sanctioning body and its CEO Jim France of “unlawful monopolization of premier stock car racing in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the premier stock car racing teams.”

Members of the media sat in on the hearing and offered some of their key takeaways. Perhaps most notable from an on-track standpoint, Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports revealed the risk that 23XI is making by taking NASCAR to court. Pockrass reported that Tyler Reddick and 23XI sponsors can leave the organization if they run as an open team in the 2025 Cup Series season.

23XI and Front Row filed the preliminary injunction as part of its lawsuit which if granted, would allow both teams to continue as chartered entities next season while pursuing their current lawsuit. The teams have argued that to even compete as open teams, a clause exists which would release NASCAR from any future litigation.

“The teams argue that NASCAR would not be harmed by the injunction because the series had planned to have 36 chartered teams and allowing them to compete as chartered teams while pursuing the lawsuit was maintaining the status quo,” Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press wrote Monday.

Judge reveals timeline for ruling on preliminary injunction request in NASCAR lawsuit

NASCAR currently operates with 36 chartered teams and four open cars in its 40-car field each week. With 23XI and Front Row declining to sign NASCAR’s take-it-or-leave-it charter agreement offer ahead of the playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September, the stock car series now plans to run 32 chartered teams and eight open cars next season.

“The Motion seeks to change the status quo, not maintain it; is about money, not irreparable harm; and fails to show a likelihood of success on the merits. This lawsuit is not about protecting competition; it’s a bid by Plaintiffs to secure more money than they could through arm’s-length negotiations. The Motion should be denied,” NASCAR wrote of the injunction request in an Oct. 23 court filing, via Joseph Srigley of Racing America.

A ruling on the injunction request could possibly come by Friday of this week, according to Pockrass.

23XI will have a chance to win its first Cup Series championship this Sunday at Phoenix, with Reddick joining Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and William Byron in the Championship 4.