US judge reverses course in NASCAR lawsuit, hands Michael Jordan team early win
By Mike Scarcella
Dec 18 (Reuters) -Pro basketball legend Michael Jordan and other stock-car team owners who sued NASCAR for a greater share of racing revenues persuaded a judge on Wednesday to force the racing league to guarantee their drivers key slots in the upcoming 2025 season.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell in Charlotte, North Carolina, partially approved the request from Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing after a different judge denied their bid last month. 23XI Racing is co-owned by Jordan.
Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing sued NASCAR and its chief executive Jim France in October, accusing them of violating U.S. antitrust law by imposing restrictive conditions on teams.
NASCAR was refusing to allow the teams to race as “chartered” members of the league — with guaranteed participation in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series races — while they were pursuing their legal claims. That would have left the teams to compete for “open” race slots.
Wednesday's order allows 23XI and Front Row Motorsports to race existing cars as chartered teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. The judge said the plaintiffs had provided new evidence that uncertainly over the 2025 season was interfering with drivers' contract provisions and affecting the teams’ corporate sponsors.
“NASCAR fans (and members of the public who may become fans) have an interest in watching all the teams compete with their best drivers and most competitive teams,” Bell wrote.
NASCAR and its lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bell’s ruling was limited to the 2025 racing season. NASCAR has denied any wrongdoing.
Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who filed the lawsuit, said the plaintiffs “are confident in the strength of our case and will continue to fight so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport.”
Bell's ruling also will require NASCAR to approve the plaintiff teams' purchase of a charter from another racing group and to allow those cars to compete as chartered members in 2025.
The case is 23XI Racing LLC d/b/a 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports Inc v. National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing LLC and James France, U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina, No. 3:24-cv-886-FDW-SCR.
For plaintiffs: Jeffrey Kessler, Jeanifer Parsigian and Danielle Williams of Winston & Strawn
For defendants: Christopher Yates, Lawrence Buterman and Anna Rathbun of Latham & Watkins
Read more:
NASCAR files motion to dismiss lawsuit by Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing
NASCAR wins round in lawsuit by Michael Jordan, other racing team owners
Michael Jordan leads NASCAR antitrust lawsuit
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