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13 months of wrangling have brought the NASCAR lawsuit to a settlement stage. The legal opponents, NASCAR and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports, have been through bitter struggles. From revealing questionable text messages to calling out individual entities on either side, the animosity has been no less. Now, as both sides seek peace, the terms of that middle ground may lean toward an old demand. The NASCAR lawsuit conducted a two-day conference this week, with hopes of reaching an amicable settlement. This was pushed by nine of the 13 non-suing Cup Series teams, whose futures are also connected. Maybe they may get more than just tickets to survival. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad NASCAR could revive a past battle Before Michael Jordan and Co. filed the NASCAR lawsuit in October 2024, a particular demand stood out among Cup Series teams. As part of the Race Team Alliance, most teams had lobbied for permanent charters, as opposed to the 7-year charter deals that NASCAR has in place. Not only did the sanctioning body ignore that plea, but it also dropped a sudden deal on the Cup Series grid with a timer, which was the main crux of the lawsuit. Now, things may tilt towards the Cup Series garage with both sides agreeing to meet halfway. According to Adam Stern’s article, one reason why Jim France denied permanent charters was simple. He “said the sport can’t commit to certain financial payouts in perpetuity when fortunes are so dependent on ever-changing media rights deals.” So a possible solution would be “getting a commitment from NASCAR that chartered teams have a permanent status, but while separating the media rights split so that it can be negotiated on a case-by-case basis when new deals are made.” The current charter deal runs through 2031. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad As of Wednesday, the two-day conference had not yielded any results. The two sides failed to settle, and a scheduled session for summary judgment motions is set for Thursday morning. Kenneth D. Bell, the judge who was overseeing the conference, has also indicated he is quite unlikely to render a summary judgment verdict for either party. This is in order not to taint the jury pool in advance of a scheduled trial that begins on December 1. A settlement still could also be reached at any time, including after the trial begins. Clearly, the matter is at a cliffhanger with no visibility of upcoming events. While we wait for further details, we cannot help but acknowledge 23XI’s formidable presence. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad A glittering legacy based on a rumor 23XI Racing‘s trajectory in NASCAR has been jaw-dropping. While being embroiled in a lawsuit, the team never fails to attract a sizeable crowd. On the day of the South Point 400, spectators gathered around the snazzy No. 23 and No. 45 Toyotas, shining with the Jumpman logos. Since the start of 2021, the team has won nine Cup Series trophies – presenting a formidable challenge to established rivals. According to President Steve Lauletta, the team has grown to 130 employees from the original staff of 24. In 2023, the Sports Business Journal named 23XI one of the “Best Places to Work in Sports.” In 2024, they opened a state-of-the-art facility called ‘Airspeed’ in Huntersville, North Carolina. All these achievements happened due to a rumor. Denny Hamlin recently recalled attending a Charlotte Hornets game in 2008 or 2009. That was when he met with Michael Jordan, and the duo became close friends. After over a decade of their friendship, Hamlin noticed a news headline that the NASCAR and NBA legends are purchasing a minority stake in a race team. “I remember reading that and saying, ‘Man, that’s kind of funny. Should I send it to Michael or not?'” Well, he sent it. Jordan’s response, as per Hamlin’s memory, was simply “haha.’’ “He’s like, ‘not true,’ but if you want to make it true, let me know,” Hamlin recalled. And as we know, the rest is history. Clearly, despite the ongoing lawsuit, 23XI Racing’s impact on NASCAR will be everlasting. Let’s wait and see where this legal turmoil ends up.
