NASCAR insider speculates how Jim France will react to pressure from 23XI Racing
Right now, the future of the charter negotiations between NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports is up in the air. Could legal action be taken? And how are NASCAR executives handling this situation?
While we won’t know many of the details as this plays out, we have history to look back on. Over the years, NASCAR has handled things themselves for the most part. They have been the end-all, be-all and if they make a decision, it’s final.
But facing two rogue teams who could bring legal action? Well, that hasn’t been done, really. So, how will Jim France take the pressure from the two holdout teams?
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic talked about France and his temperament on The Teardown earlier this week.
“NASCAR historically has not operated that way. If you look at Jim France, by all accounts, I don’t pretend to know Jim France on a great level, I’ve spoken with him a few times, but from the conversations I’ve had with people who do know him well, pretty mild-mannered guy. Like, he’s not necessarily as kind of heavy-handed as his brother was or his father was, who were very much iron-fist, right? Iron-fist Bills.
“Jim is much more mild-mannered and kind of more amenable to things. But a lot of people tell me if you push Jim to a point, he gets to a point and he gets into a corner, he’s not somebody who really likes to be told what to do. This is how he’s always done things and he is kind of, that’s how his family has run this sport, that’s how he has ran this sport.”
Where is this latest charter controversy headed?
Could 23XI Racing take NASCAR to court?
With all of the other Cup Series teams signing the charter agreement last Friday, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are in an unusual position. They don’t have numbers on their side. In fact, it feels as though all leverage is gone.
However, there is one more play. At least, it appears there is one more play for these teams to make. They could very well take this situation to court. Antitrust cases in sports have been ramping up. The NCAA is the most obvious example of this.
With few options before them, 23XI Racing might have to take NASCAR to court. They have the resources to do it. At least, the ownership group has the resources to do it. Whether or not they would succeed remains to be seen.
Jim France may feel backed into a corner. Or he might feel that he has the leverage now with Hendrick, JGR, and every other team signing the agreement. If he does feel pressure, how will he react when the heat is turned up even more?