Michael Jordan's Racing Team Sues NASCAR Over 'Unfair Terms,' Calls Them 'Monopolistic Bullies'

Michael Jordan's racing team, 23XI Racing, is suing NASCAR and its CEO Jim France over what the suirt describes as "unfair terms," TMZ reports.

On Wednesday, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and chairman France, claiming both parties are operating the league without full transparency and have established a control that profits them at the cost of team owners, drivers, sponsors, and more. Both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports disagree with the way NASCAR implements certain rules, such as buying car parts from suppliers they choose and banning teams from competing in stock car races outside of the league.

The lawsuit also alleges that teams are having trouble making a profit from races. Last month, NASCAR offered a new revenue-sharing deal that 13 different organizations signed; however, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports didn't sign due to the previously mentioned "unfair terms." Both teams wanted a larger share of revenue, but couldn't to an agreement.

Jordan's team and Front Row also claimed that NASCAR pressured the 13 other teams that had signed into a "take-it-or-leave-it" deal, which then led to the filing of the antitrust lawsuit. 23XI Racing and Front Row are now seeking damages for the anticompetitive terms. NASCAR is privately owned and operated by France and his family, who signed $7.7 billion seven-year media deal in November.

"The France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies," 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports said in a joint statement. "And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived."

They added, "Together, we brought this antitrust case so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport in ways that will benefit teams, drivers, sponsors, and, most importantly, fans."

MJ, who founded his racing team in 2020 with driver Denny Hamlin, said in a statement that he wants to level the playing field in NASCAR so that "everyone wins," and added that his competitive nature is what fuels him and the team. However, he claimed NASCAR is run in a way that doesn't allow competition to thrive.

"Today's action shows I'm willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins," Jordan said in his statement. "Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track. I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans."

Hamlin added, "When I look around, I see that the best and most competitive sports in the world understand that when teams thrive, fans benefit, and that everyone who invests in making the sport a success should share fairly in that success. With the right changes, we can certainly make that a reality in racing."