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23XI, Front Row Motorsports antitrust lawsuit vs. NASCAR
After nearly two weeks of testimony, NASCAR settled with 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, ending a year-long legal battle that could alter the auto racing landscape. Here is The Charlotte Observer’s complete coverage.
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The trial that was destined to upend the sport of stock car racing and reimagine NASCAR’s model of business concluded with a sudden settlement on Thursday morning.
At the front of the Potter Courtroom in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of North Carolina in uptown Charlotte — the site of numerous acrimonious proceedings in the past two weeks and over the lawsuit’s 14 months — District Judge Kenneth Bell told the nine-member jury that the antitrust case pitting two Cup Series teams against the sanctioning body of NASCAR had been settled.
Bell, at the conclusion of reading the settlement papers, said that he was pleased with the result — adding that such a resolution is “great for the entity of NASCAR” and that most importantly, “it will be great for the fans.”
Added Bell: “Sometimes the parties just have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.”
Co-owners of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx One Rate Toyota, and NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan, talk on the grid after the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6, 2024, in Talladega, Alabama. Chris Graythen Getty Images
The trial that has captured the attention of the racing world over the past nine weekdays and 14 months prior involved Michael Jordan and Cup Series superstar Denny Hamlin. They both own 23XI Racing, a racing team that joined forces with Front Row Motorsports in October 2024 to sue the sanctioning body of NASCAR on the grounds that it represents an unlawful monopoly. The suit asserted that NASCAR achieved those ends through anti-competitive practices that weakened the teams and strengthened itself.
“From the beginning, this lawsuit was about progress. It was about making sure our sport evolves in a way that supports everyone: teams, drivers, partners, employees and fans,” Jordan said in a statement. “With a foundation to build equity and invest in the future and a stronger voice in the decisions ahead, we now have the chance to grow together and make this sport even better for generations to come.”
Legal representation on both sides — as well as Judge Bell — wanted the case to be resolved before trial began Dec. 1. But as the trial approached, both plaintiff and defendant sources indicated that a mid-trial settlement was unlikely. That changed Thursday, when the court broke for a nearly two-hour long recess as the two sides brokered a deal.
“This resolution reflects our shared commitment to maintaining a fair and equitable framework for long-term participation in America’s premier motorsport, one that supports teams, partners and stakeholders while ensuring fans enjoy uninterrupted access to the best racing in the world,” a joint statement from NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports read. “The agreement allows all parties to move forward with a unified focus on advancing stock car racing and delivering exceptional competition for our fans.”
Details of the settlement weren’t immediately disclosed Thursday. No reason for the sides’ sudden change of collective heart was offered at court, either.
Once court concluded Thursday, several key stakeholders in the case met and shook hands. That included Jordan and NASCAR CEO and board chairman Jim France.
This story was originally published December 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM.
Alex Zietlow
The Charlotte Observer
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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