Michael Jordan arrived at Talladega Superspeedway about 30 minutes before the playoff race began and went straight to visit Bubba Wallace’s pit crew.
The NBA legend later moved down pit road to Tyler Reddick’s area, where he sat on the wall and waited for Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins. Both team owners have refused to sign NASCAR’s charter agreement and recently filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series.
Their brief meeting on Sunday was intended to show support between the two teams that chose not to accept NASCAR’s terms for its new revenue-sharing model. 23XI Racing and Front Row want a jury to determine if NASCAR is indeed “monopolistic bullies,” as claimed in the lawsuit.
Before the race, Jordan said the lawsuit represents all Cup Series teams; 13 organizations signed the charter agreement, while 23XI and Front Row are the only teams that did not.
Many team owners have mentioned that they felt pressured to sign by the deadline, fearing they would lose the entire charter system.
“I think everybody should have an opportunity to be successful in any business, and my voice is saying it hasn’t been happening,” Jordan told Fox Sports.
He also stated that he had no plans to talk with NASCAR chairman Jim France, who is named in the lawsuit, while at Talladega over the weekend.
The legal battle has become a major topic of discussion in NASCAR during its playoffs as the entire industry waits to see what will happen next. NASCAR has not commented, and France did not discuss it at Talladega. A court response from NASCAR could come as soon as this week before Sunday’s playoff elimination race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Michael McDowell, who won the pole for Sunday’s race with Front Row, supported Jenkins’ choice to challenge NASCAR. McDowell decided months ago that he would leave the team he has been with since 2018 at the end of the season, but he backs what Jenkins and 23XI are trying to achieve.
“Bob Jenkins is so dedicated to this sport,” McDowell said. “He has spent millions and millions of his own dollars to be in this sport and to be competitive. Nobody does that unless they’re insane or super passionate.
“He’s passionate about our race team and being competitive. It’s been a steady progression, and I feel like we’re at a point now where we’re a contender,” McDowell continued. “There is nobody spending what we spend and performing how we perform. Nobody. And if he has to spend his own money, there is a problem.”
Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Jordan and Curtis Polk, also supported the decision to go to court.
“It’s been stated in statements by Michael Jordan that he loves NASCAR,” Hamlin said. “We’ve obviously invested heavily in NASCAR and reinvested what I got out of this sport as a driver back into it as an owner. Certainly, we love the sport, just would love to see change as well.”
When asked if he thinks NASCAR appreciates what he and 23XI have done for the sport, Hamlin paused for a moment.
“Probably not,” he finally answered.
Jordan is the most prominent team owner in NASCAR and one of only two Black owners. 23XI also has one of the most diverse teams in the garage, with driver Wallace and various crew members and non-competition staff.
The lawsuit has brought up another issue in the garage: Team owner Richard Childress expressed uncertainty about whether the agreement he signed is the same as what Hendrick Motorsports received.
He questioned whether 23XI and Front Row would get the same terms if they eventually reach an agreement with NASCAR, and what that would mean for organizations that have already signed.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen because it’s just so unprecedented in our sport,” said Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks. “There’s no historical precedent. I think in other cases like this, in other sports, you have collective bargaining unions.
So it’s just a very, very different setting. I think we have a blank slate and we can land anywhere. I think whatever comes out of this, I have to believe that it should affect everybody the same.”
