23XI Racing, the team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, along with Front Row Motorsports, has escalated its ongoing legal dispute with NASCAR by requesting a federal judge to determine the boundaries of NASCAR’s market power before their December trial. The teams argue this early judicial ruling will clarify whether NASCAR faces any real competition, which they believe is central to their 23XI Racing legal battle.
For more than a year, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have maintained that the NASCAR Cup Series is a singular platform, and that race teams participating in it have no realistic alternative markets. They assert that this exclusivity demonstrates NASCAR’s dominance, a key assertion in their antitrust claims against the sanctioning body.
In their most recent filing, the teams emphasized that:
Indeed, it was because the chartered racing teams had no alternative purchaser for their services that NASCAR’s executives concluded the teams would have no choice but to accept whatever charter terms NASCAR offered or not compete at all.
This perspective suggests that team owners such as Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin see NASCAR as the only viable buyer for stock car racing teams, meaning teams are forced to accept whatever terms are set by NASCAR’s executives. The teams further allege that, by exercising this unique market control, NASCAR breaches federal antitrust laws designed to prevent such monopolistic behavior.
Documents from Wednesday night show that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are requesting the court to issue a pivotal ruling about NASCAR’s market position well ahead of the December trial date. According to Matt Weaver, motorsports journalist:
Late Wednesday night filing from 23XI and FRM want federal judge to issue a ruling on NASCAR’s market power for race teams before the December trial.The teams accuse NASCAR of judicial estoppel — arguing contradictory positions on the matter, https://t.co/e9F15jJzLy— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 2, 2025
This filing accuses NASCAR of judicial estoppel, suggesting the organization has presented conflicting statements about its influence over race teams in previous interactions with the court.
How the Teams Want the Court to Intervene
By pushing for an official summary judgment, the teams hope the judge will provide a definitive opinion on how far NASCAR’s market reach extends. If determined early, this finding could simplify the trial process, streamlining arguments about whether NASCAR operates as a monopoly or not.
The judge, however, is not obligated to decide the matter alone and could allow the jury to weigh in during the trial scheduled to begin December 1. The teams intend to advocate for this oral argument in front of the judge before proceedings formally start.
NASCAR Insists Teams Have Options
In response to these filings, NASCAR has countered by arguing that teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have the option to participate in other forms of motorsport, such as the IndyCar Series or Formula 1. This stance is meant to undermine the argument that NASCAR is the sole viable buyer of race teams’ services.
Despite NASCAR’s claims, 23XI Racing and its partner teams continue to push for a court admission that NASCAR controls the only meaningful market for American stock car racing teams. If successful, this would force the judge and jury to question NASCAR’s assertion that teams could simply enter alternative racing competitions if dissatisfied with charter agreements.
What Lies Ahead in the 23XI Racing Legal Battle
With the trial set to begin on December 1, attention remains on how the court will address the fundamental question of NASCAR’s market control. The outcome could shape the landscape of team ownership, charter agreements, and competitive fairness for years to come.
As tension builds between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and the sanctioning body, parties on both sides continue preparing their filings and arguments, aware that the results could impact not only those directly involved, but the future of the NASCAR Cup Series itself.
Late Wednesday night filing from 23XI and FRM want federal judge to issue a ruling on NASCAR's market power for race teams before the December trial.
The teams accuse NASCAR of judicial estoppel — arguing contradictory positions on the matter, https://t.co/e9F15jJzLy
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 2, 2025
