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Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan's race team is accused of being part of an illegal cartel by NASCAR in a new lawsuit, according to legal documents obtained by the Athletic.
Jordan's 23XI Racing, his longtime business manager, Curtis Polk, and a separate team, Front Row Motorsports, are accused by NASCAR of conducting a scheme to "pressure" the racing league during negotiations on charter agreements “including by engaging in media campaigns, interfering with NASCAR’s broadcast agreement negotiations, threatening boycotts of NASCAR events and engaging in a group boycott of a NASCAR Team Owner Council Meeting,” the filing states. NASCAR filed a countersuit after being sued by 23XI and Front Row in October as part of a lawsuit accusing the league of committing "anticompetitive and exclusionary practices."
Jeffrey Kessler, who is representing Jordan's team and Front Row, referred to NASCAR's new countersuit as "a meritless distraction and a desperate attempt to shift attention away from its own unlawful, monopolistic actions."
“My clients’ lawsuit has always been about transforming NASCAR into a more competitive and fair sport for the benefit of drivers, fans, sponsors and teams because of their love of the sport,” Kessler said via the Athletic. “Every major sport goes through a transition to competition when antitrust claims are asserted, and that moment has come for NASCAR. Today’s baseless filing changes nothing. We are confident in the strength of our case and look forward to presenting it at trial.”
Jordan, 62, widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history, launched his 23XI team in 2020, which made its Daytona 500 debut in 2021 and has competed in 147 total races.