After 435 days, NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit has come to a close, and at the center of it all are the team owners and executives. Here’s what those key players in the lawsuit had to say now that they have come to a settlement.
On October 2, 2024, 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, NASCAR legend and active driver Denny Hamlin, and Jordan’s business partner Curtis Polk, alongside Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, sued NASCAR.
This followed an almost year-long negotiation period of its NASCAR Charter Agreement, which determines the stipulations and benefits of owning one or more of NASCAR’s 36 charters. Ultimately, after an abrupt end to the negotiations, 13 of 15 teams signed the final 2025 NASCAR Charter Agreement, with 23XI and FRM the holdouts.
After well over a year of trading barbs, unsealing private messages, and a nearly two-week-long legal battle, this lawsuit has come to an end, with the sides settling prior to what was supposed to be the nine-day trial on Thursday, December 11.
After settling, the two sides laughed and even hugged it out, with several of the major names letting NASCAR fans know how they feel about the settlement.
What’s Happening? 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have settled their antitrust lawsuit filed against NASCAR, bringing this long-running saga to…
Of course, the big names on the side of the plaintiffs are the ownership of 23XI Racing, who, throughout this process, brought light to the issues at hand through their reputation in the NASCAR community and beyond.
In a statement from 23XI, each expressed their feelings on the settlement, with Jordan saying that this gives NASCAR and the teams a chance to grow concurrently.
“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. 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 the sport even better for generations to come. I’m excited to watch our teams get back on the track and compete hard in 2026.” — Michael Jordan
Hamlin, who is known for his outspoken nature and even threw a few barbs on social media throughout the lawsuit, touts the “stability and opportunity” this settlement and the changes it will bring to the NASCAR Charter Agreement will offer teams as a major win.
“I’ve cared deeply about the sport of NASCAR my entire life. Racing is all I’ve ever known, and this sport shaped who I am. That’s why we were willing to shoulder the challenges that came with taking this stand. We believed it was worth fighting for a stronger and more sustainable future for everyone in the industry. Teams, drivers and partners will now have the stability and opportunity they deserve. Our commitment to the fans and to the entire NASCAR community has never been stronger. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and now it is time to move forward together and build the stronger future this sport deserves.” — Denny Hamlin
Polk, who at one point found himself facing a countersuit from NASCAR, spoke on the Four Pillars, a short list of goals teams were pursuing during negotiations in 2023 and 2024, saying that the settlement has progressed the teams towards achieving these pursuits.
“My goal as a member of the Team Negotiating Committee was to help create an economic model that would create a more sustainable model for teams and create a more equitable and transparent system within NASCAR. This settlement achieves significant progress toward the Four Pillars. The result brings NASCAR and the chartered teams into better alignment and supports future growth and sustainability for all stakeholders and a better sport for the fans.” — Curtis Polk
Following the settlement and the release of these statements, Hamlin also posted on X, saying, “Standing up isn’t easy, but progress never comes from staying silent. The reward is in knowing you changed something.”
While the big names played a major role in this lawsuit and settlement, often overlooked was Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins.
Jenkins, who turned his team from a ‘start and park’ organization in the late 2000s into a winner and Daytona 500 Champion, gave one of the more gripping testimonies during the trial, with the veteran team owner speaking on the financial hardships he has faced as an underdog in the sport.
In his statement, the team owner and businessman spoke on the “long-term value” that this settlement is bringing to the teams, alongside the significance of having what he calls a “real voice in NASCAR’s future.”
“After more than 20 years in this sport, today gives me real confidence in where we’re headed. I love this sport, and it was clear we needed a system that treated our teams, drivers and sponsors fairly and kept the competition strong. With this change, we can finally build long-term value and have a real voice in NASCAR’s future. I’m excited for the road ahead — for the people in the garage, the folks in the stands and everyone who loves this sport.” — Bob Jenkins
Finally, Jim France, the son of NASCAR founder Bill France, is a long-time figure in the sport.
Though France stood by his convictions on the witness stand throughout this week’s portion of the trial, he said in his statement that this settlement focused on reaffirming the sport’s charter system.
“This outcome gives all parties the flexibility and confidence to continue delivering unforgettable racing moments for our fans, which has always been our highest priority since the sport was founded in 1948. We worked closely with race teams and tracks to create the NASCAR charter system in 2016, and it has proven invaluable to their operations and to the quality of racing across the Cup Series. Today’s agreement reaffirms our commitment to preserving and enhancing that value, ensuring our fans continue to enjoy the very best of stock car racing for generations to come. We are excited to return the collective focus of our sport, teams and race tracks toward an incredible 78th season that begins with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.” — Jim France
NASCAR legend Rick Hendrick often came up during this lawsuit, most recently, in the form of a letter he sent to France, in which he claimed NASCAR was telling owners they “bring no value, our rights are worthless, and we don’t know how to run a viable business.”
In a statement at the conclusion of this lawsuit, Hendrick spoke of unity, saying, “when our industry is united, there’s no limit to how far we can go or how much we can grow the sport we love.”
“Millions of loyal NASCAR fans and thousands of hardworking people rely on our industry, and today’s resolution allows all of us to focus on what truly matters – the future of our sport. For more than 40 years, NASCAR racing has been my passion. I believe deeply in what we can accomplish when we work together. This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen our relationships and recommit ourselves to building a collaborative and prosperous future for all stakeholders. I’m incredibly optimistic about what’s ahead. When our industry is united, there’s no limit to how far we can go or how much we can grow the sport we love.” — Rick Hendrick
What’s Happening? Per its settlement with teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, NASCAR will provide the sport’s 15 charter owning…
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