Introduction to the Settlement
NASCAR reached a settlement Thursday of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.
“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said as he waited in the gallery for attorneys to announce the deal. Details were not immediately released.
Background of the Lawsuit
The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who set aside motions hearing for an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, to another room for more talks.
The Reason Behind the Lawsuit
23XI and Front Row filed their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season uncharted.
Consequences of Losing the Case
Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.
The Settlement and Its Implications
Bell told the jury that sometimes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.
“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”
Previous Revenue-Sharing Agreement
All teams felt the previous revenue-sharing agreement was unfair and two-plus years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s final offer, which was described by the teams as “take-it-or-leave it.” The teams believed the new agreement lacked all four of their key demands, most importantly the charters becoming permanent instead of renewable.
Testimony and Damages
The settlement followed eight days of testimony in which the Florida-based France family, the founders and private owners of NASCAR, were shown to be inflexible in making the charters permanent.
When the defense began its case Wednesday it seemed focused more on mitigating damages than proving it did not act anticompetitively.
An economist earlier testified 23XI and Front Row were owed over $300 million in damages.
Conclusion
The settlement of the antitrust lawsuit between NASCAR and two of its teams is a significant development in the world of stock car racing. While the details of the settlement have not been released, it is clear that the agreement is a positive outcome for all parties involved. The settlement will likely have a major impact on the future of NASCAR and its teams, and will be closely watched by fans and industry insiders alike.
FAQs
Q: What was the lawsuit about?
A: The lawsuit was filed by two NASCAR teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, against NASCAR over the new charter offers presented in September 2024.
Q: What were the teams demanding?
A: The teams were demanding that the charters become permanent instead of renewable, among other things.
Q: What would have happened if the teams had lost the case?
A: Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.
Q: How much were the teams owed in damages?
A: An economist testified that 23XI and Front Row were owed over $300 million in damages.
