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Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, decided to speak out after his team and Front Row Motorsports filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. The former NBA legend believes NASCAR is trying to benefit at the expense of stock car racing teams.
In a media interview, Jordan emphasized that he has always been a competitive person, aiming to come out on top in every situation. He doesn’t understand why NASCAR officials are reacting this way, since their approach isn’t fair to anyone involved in the NASCAR scene.
Recent actions by NASCAR have raised questions among many, who are wondering why this situation has suddenly emerged. Fans of the sport are unclear about NASCAR's goals and what lies behind this issue. Team owner Jordan has no intention of backing down, believing that his team has been treated unfairly.
“Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track,” Jordan said, as quoted by On3.
“I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.”
23XI and Front Row are still firmly standing by their views since day one, refusing to sign NASCAR's final charter proposal. The negotiations have been lengthy, but clearly without a real solution or willingness from both sides to accept terms. The contracts expire on December 31, and according to media reports, NASCAR has refused to include permanent charters in its proposals.
These two teams are the only ones that have rejected NASCAR's terms and have no plans to agree in the future. The current rules are specific: you cannot have permanent franchises for many reasons. This situation could become problematic for these two teams, which might ultimately lose in court. Michael Jordan has decided to share his thoughts on everything.
Jordan explained that if there were permanent charters, teams could generate a steady income, whether through new investors or various sponsorships. This income could help balance the relationship between team owners and the league. He emphasized that this is a major oversight. NBA legend warned that if this issue isn't addressed, the sport could struggle, not because of the competition, but because it simply wouldn’t be financially viable for business people.
Denny Hamlin reacts
Denny Hamlin confirmed a little over 10 days ago that things aren't moving forward. NASCAR has no intention of changing its original stance, while 23XI Racing also sees no sense in what NASCAR wants. Hamlin, who is also one of the team owners, emphasized that his team has no plans to back down and will definitely compete next year.
“We’ve said we plan on racing next year no matter what. And we’re sticking to that,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin explained that 23XI is focused on finalizing a charter deal. This experienced driver pointed out that as of January 1, 2025, they don’t have a charter in their view, meaning they can’t buy or sell something that doesn't exist for them. They currently have two charters until the end of this year, but without a charter agreement, that's all they have.
Denny mentioned that he didn’t build their facility to remain just a two-car team, but it has to be financially viable. He stated that he won’t put himself in a situation where he has to spend millions of dollars every year just to keep the team running; he is not willing to do that personally.
Hamlin and Jordan are determined to stand up to those in charge of NASCAR, believing it’s time for some changes. It’s hard to say how much they can really accomplish in this situation, but they know negotiating with NASCAR will be very challenging, given the sport's history, tradition, and the rights it holds. 23XI Racing is a young team with big ambitions for the future, but the question remains whether they have the capacity to achieve significant things in the near term.
The owner of 23XI Racing wants this agreement to make financial sense, as it's very hard to understand the logic behind the current situation. Denny Hamlin has always emphasized that he wants the best for his team, but the current circumstances are not working in his favor.
“So, it has to make financial sense. And the charter agreement needs to be better than it is certainly before I invest any more money in it.”- Denny Hamlin concluded.
It is indeed an interesting situation. There are a lot of factors at play.
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