What’s Happening?
The 23XI and Front Row Motorsports antitrust lawsuit has shocked the NASCAR world. The two teams claim that NASCAR is operating an illegal monopoly on stock car racing. Of course, the industry players on social media have a lot to say about the potential court battle.
- 23XI Racing and FRM are suing NASCAR as an illegal monopoly. The two are notably the only teams out of 15 charter-owning teams not to sign NASCAR’s new Charter Agreement. There is a long road ahead. However, they do have their supporters.
- Many industry members, like NASCAR media, current drivers, and teams, are keeping quiet about this suit. However, some of the more opinionated groups couldn’t hold back.
Industry Insiders
First, 23XI and FRM released a joint statement about the lawsuit. It quickly yet effectively stated the facts of the case. Notably, the statements from both the team and 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan make it clear that they are factoring the fans into their decision.
Statement from 23XI and Front Row Motorsports ownership. Read more here https://t.co/zvseR0i7bP pic.twitter.com/2HGtyawX6k
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) October 2, 2024
FRM’s owner, Bob Jenkins, focused on the business side in his statement. Jenkins, a long-time businessman, wants to make sure that NASCAR has a fair playing field.
Joint statement from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. https://t.co/OJiFZh3Ljt pic.twitter.com/eIroHelz9R
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) October 2, 2024
Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal asked the team’s lawyer, antitrust legend Jeffrey Kessler, what the end goal is for the teams; Kessler said this much.
Asked whether 23XI may exit @NASCAR if it doesn't get the result it's looking for, Curtis Polk let Jeffrey Kessler answer: "They are going to do their best to keep competing as long as they can, and we expect it to end in a legal victory or settlement that transforms this sport."
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 2, 2024
Claire B Lang, a long-time NASCAR insider, suggested that NASCAR may not want to take this to court. NASCAR does have an interesting history of settling out-of-court.
Well been digesting this and making calls since statement(s) came out. Is anyone surprised? Didn't we expect this? Also it is something the sanctioning body surely does not want to see play out in court. https://t.co/g9zU4Dzw0u
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) October 2, 2024
Alan Cavanna says 23XI/FRM would take a settlement under very specific circumstances.
On @SiriusXMNASCAR…
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) October 2, 2024
Jeffrey Kessler, lawyer for 23XI and Front Row, on a potential settlement with #NASCAR
“Changes have to be significant and transformative. There can be compromise, but it has to be fair to both sides”
As far as other owners go, Jordan Bianchi of the Athletic got a few to comment anonymously. Of course, these reflected a tone of shock and seemingly respect for the guts of the many owners of the two teams that had to sue NASCAR.
Team owners/executives react to antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) October 3, 2024
“I did not have the balls to do what 23XI and FRM are doing because I was afraid I’d lose my charters."
“I’ve been waiting on this. This is going to be wild.”
"Either way, we don’t lose.”https://t.co/n6alrgjWNr
Kenny Wallace has seen this film before and knows the ending well. He is concerned about those pesky pit road speeding penalties, even citing Hamlin’s former teammate, Tony Stewart, on the matter.
Could #NASCAR "punish" 23XIRacing for filing this lawsuit?@Kenny_Wallace discusses…
— The Kenny Wallace Show (@KWallaceShow) October 3, 2024
Plus hear an old clip from @TonyStewart where he talks about how the sport is controlled.
Brought to you by @JEGSPerformance!
Direct link to JEGS! https://t.co/B80oH6uzv1#BuiltWithJegs pic.twitter.com/aTciXS3Mm7
MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio personality Dave Moody is worried about how this affects 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin’s on-track mentality. Hamlin is in a tough stretch in the playoffs and is clearly not in that championship mentality four races in.
Not psychoanalyzing in any way, other than to say that this has to be a distraction for Denny and everyone around him.
— Dave Moody (@DGodfatherMoody) October 2, 2024
Prior to this, Moody had interviewed the plaintiff’s lawyer, Kessler, on NASCAR Radio. Kessler spoke bluntly about the situation, perhaps leading NASCAR Radio to edit and remove the interview, which many insiders noticed, including Denny Hamlin.
While censorship is a big topic in today’s media world,
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) October 3, 2024
Channel 90 might be the poster child. An interview didn’t go the way they hoped after our attorney continued to state fact after fact even tho they tried their best to refute, they have since edited/deleted that interview…
Taylor Kitchen of Racing America and TobyChristie.com was shocked to see this. Of course, this was a weird time for all of us in the NASCAR media.
Yeah… the media landscape has been incredibly interesting and revealing the past two days. https://t.co/5qmg1LENob
— Taylor Kitchen (@_TaylorKitchen_) October 3, 2024
Kessler wasn’t the only one who spoke bluntly on NASCAR Radio. NASCAR’s legendary Crew Chief, analyst, and NASCAR Radio host Larry McReynolds made controversial comments on how the young team, 23XI, and the “not competitive” team, FRM, are trying to throw their weight around.
More fire from @LarryMac28 on @SiriusXMNASCAR in regard to the @dennyhamlin @23XIRacing Michael Jordan and @Team_FRM #NASCAR lawsuit:
— Brett Winningham (@NASCAR_BRETT) October 2, 2024
"We've got an organization that's been here not even four years that all of a sudden is saying 'we gotta change the way NASCAR's run'. I'm all…
Of course, fans shot back at the elder statesman with the usual high-quality content.
https://t.co/q6jZthRoc9 pic.twitter.com/aoVgt2jMNS
— Christopher Beltram Hernandez “Swaggy Y” Yeley (@Tom_Engels_Desk) October 2, 2024
Content Creators
Dale Tanhardt, rather than his usual comedic approach, was short and to the point with his opinion. He was throwing his hat into the ring for the plaintiffs.
The only way change can be achieved. Crazy that it has to come down to this. NASCAR could’ve avoided this so easily, man. Teams are right. Hope they win https://t.co/n41eA6NfRs pic.twitter.com/vL4cGP5X12
— dale tanhardt (@daletanhardt) October 2, 2024
Nascarman, as always, reminded us of the sport’s history, bringing up the Ferko Lawsuit, which was NASCAR’s last major antitrust suit and resulted in the sale of Rockingham to SMI.
A lot of this lawsuit is reminiscent of the language used in the Ferko Lawsuit of 2002. Imagine NASCAR executives would definitely want a settlement rather than actually go to trial over monopoly claims, but that could take a long time to reach. https://t.co/ycvYYcnusL
— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) October 2, 2024
Of course, IndyCar content creator David Land brought IndyCar into the conversation, joking that NASCAR should sell Michigan back to IndyCar owner Roger Penske. At the same time, nascarman joked that IndyCar should hop in as well.
And then Indycar joins the antitrust lawsuit too, claiming nascar blocked them from racing at certain tracks, hurting the value of indycar and things get really crazy pic.twitter.com/vhje5iDDl6
— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) October 2, 2024
Chase Holden of the Speed Street Podcast reminded everybody that 23XI was not only bringing fun paint schemes back into style but also assisting in making major court cases popular again.
Diddy trial coming up.
— Chase Holden
NASCAR trial coming up.
Court is so back.(@GarageGuyChase) October 3, 2024
ESPN’s Ryan McGee Sees Backlash From Story
Ryan McGee, a longtime NASCAR contributor for ESPN, had things to say about this suit as well. However, his take garnered not only backlash but a community note from X.
McGee made the point that during recovery from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, something NASCAR and its teams have been on the frontlines of, 23XI and FRM should have at least waited. However, as the teams are filing an injunction for Charters in 2025, they had to do so as soon as possible.
McGee, an NC native, was very passionate about this stance. However, fans and industry members didn’t agree.
Filed to ESPN: On the same day the NASCAR community teamed up for Helene aid, two of its teams announced they were suing the sport. Debate the antitrust lawsuit all you want, but there is no debate about the callousness of the timing. Wait a damn week. https://t.co/McjFHaVbNS
— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) October 3, 2024
Denny Hamlin was just as shocked as the rest of the NASCAR community.

Meanwhile, Freddie Kraft of Door Bumper Clear and 23XI expressed his pride in his team despite what McGee posted.
I’m proud to work at 23XI, especially this week. https://t.co/Y5AkO4RMpl
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) October 3, 2024
Fans, in fact, reminded McGee that 23XI is proudly on the front lines working to get supplies to those affected.
— Gary Owen (@GOWENYT) October 3, 2024
Of course, the article’s “whataboutism” sparked controversy. In a world in which so many bad things are happening, how do we focus on other things?
You can still hold control of a monopoly while helping thousands of people.
— RJ Kauffman (@kauffmanrj) October 3, 2024
Just like you can write an Op-Ed piece with enough facts to classify it as “reporting”.
One doesn’t out-justify the other @ESPNMcGee https://t.co/7LeMcS2PHp
Of course, McGee’s point is that the hurricane’s disaster is right in the backyards of the two teams. This is, of course, a confusing time for both NASCAR fans and, more importantly, residents of Western North Carolina.
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