Michael Jordan is expected to take the stand Friday in a federal antitrust case that has put NASCAR’s business model under intense scrutiny. Two people familiar with the matter told NBC News that the NBA legend and co-owner of 23XI Racing will testify as his team and Front Row Motorsports try to convince a Charlotte, North Carolina, jury that NASCAR operates as an illegal monopoly.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024, argues that NASCAR restricts teams’ revenue potential and independence by enforcing rules that require all teams to use the same cars and parts from NASCAR-approved suppliers. According to the plaintiffs, these policies suppress competition and keep teams dependent on the league.
NASCAR has denied the allegations and maintains that its structure ensures safety and fairness across the sport. Its commissioner said last October that the league was “trying our hardest” to settle the case, which has already revealed internal financial documents and communications. NASCAR, founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr., is still controlled by the France family.
Jordan, 62, who rose to global prominence through his basketball career and later owned the Charlotte Hornets, has become a notable figure in motorsports. He co-founded 23XI Racing five years ago with Curtis Polk and veteran driver Denny Hamlin. Although his appearance is scheduled for Friday, court calendars can shift, and the exact timing may change.
At the center of the dispute is NASCAR’s charter system, introduced in 2016. Charters guarantee 36 teams automatic entry into the top racing series and provide shares of league revenue. Teams have pushed for charters to become permanent and more financially valuable. Earlier this year, NASCAR proposed a new revenue-sharing plan.
Many teams agreed, but 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports declined and filed suit shortly afterward. During testimony this week, Hamlin explained why he refused the offer. “I didn’t sign because I knew this was my death certificate for the future,” he said. “I have spent 20 years trying to make this sport grow as a driver and for the last five years as a team owner. 23XI is doing our part.
You can’t have someone treat you this unfairly, and I knew it wasn’t right. They were wrong, and someone needed to be held accountable.” The lawsuit describes NASCAR as “monopolistic bullies” and challenges both its control of most racing tracks and the approval process for tracks it does not own. Jordan has said his goal in taking on NASCAR is broader than his own organization. As he put it, he is doing it “for the smaller teams, as well; it’s not just for me.”
READ NEXT
- Michael Jordan Set to Testify in Federal Antitrust Case Against NASCAR, Sources Say
- Bethenny Frankel Opens Up About “Torment” of Decade-Long Divorce from Jason Hoppy
- ‘Ridiculous and Absurd’: Madonna responds to Trump’s World AIDS Day reversal
- Weezer Bassist Scott Shriner’s Wife Files for Divorce Months After Attempted-Murder Arrest
- Will Smith’s friend of nearly 40 years alleges confrontation with Jada in new Lawsuit
