NextFin news, On Friday, October 3, 2025, a group of NASCAR’s most influential team owners publicly called for a settlement in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The lawsuit, which accuses NASCAR of operating an illegal monopoly through its charter system, is set for trial on December 1 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The nine team owners who submitted declarations supporting NASCAR’s position include the sport’s “Big Three” — Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports, Roger Penske of Team Penske, and Joe Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing — as well as Richard Childress and Brad Keselowski. These owners stressed the critical role the charter system plays in the financial viability of their teams and the sport’s overall stability.
23XI Racing, co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin, alongside Front Row Motorsports, led by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, filed the lawsuit last fall after refusing to sign a seven-year extension to NASCAR’s charter agreement. They argue that NASCAR’s take-it-or-leave-it offer and the threat to eliminate the charter system constitute anticompetitive behavior.
Represented by noted antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who previously led the House v. NCAA case, 23XI and Front Row contend that NASCAR’s monopoly harms competition and fairness within the sport. Kessler acknowledged the declarations from other team owners but noted that these owners support the charter system because their survival depends on it, not because they condone NASCAR’s alleged anticompetitive conduct.
NASCAR responded by stating that the lawsuit is not truly about antitrust issues but rather an attempt by the plaintiffs to renegotiate an agreement that other teams have honored. NASCAR emphasized that the charter system enjoys broad support among teams and is essential for the sport’s continued growth.
Several team owners expressed urgency to resolve the litigation amicably to protect the sport’s future and the livelihoods of hundreds of employees. Joe Gibbs highlighted the need to preserve the charter system to ensure the health and prosperity of NASCAR’s workforce. Rick Hendrick warned that undoing the current system could cause immeasurable damage to the sport and its businesses.
Roger Penske noted that the charter system’s success influenced his implementation of a similar model in IndyCar, which he owns. Penske also pointed out that NASCAR’s Next Gen car has reduced costs by approximately 40 percent, a claim supported by Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells III.
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell has previously warned that if the plaintiffs prevail, NASCAR could face significant restructuring, including forced sales of racetracks and changes to the charter system itself.
The trial scheduled for December 1 will be closely watched as it could reshape the business and competitive landscape of NASCAR. Meanwhile, other teams such as Legacy Motor Club and Rick Ware Racing recently settled a separate charter dispute confidentially, highlighting varied approaches to resolving legal conflicts within the sport.
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