A federal antitrust lawsuit brought against NASCAR by two race teams, including one co-owned by retired NBA superstar Michael Jordan, was settled in court on Thursday, Dec. 11.
The lawsuit, accusing the stock car racing series of being a monopolistic bully, ended when NASCAR agreed to make the charters at the heart of its business model permanent for all its teams.
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“Today’s a good day,” Jordan told reporters as he stood outside a Charlotte, North Carolina, courthouse alongside 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR chairman Jim France.
The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who said in court, according to the Associated Press: “I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago. I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season unchartered.
Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.
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In a joint statement released by NASCAR and the two teams, the sanctioning body agreed to “a form of evergreen charters,” which should secure the value of charters long-term.
Financial terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be disclosed, the joint statement said.
“From the beginning, this lawsuit was about progress,” Jordan said in a statement. “It was about making sure our sport evolves in a way that supports everyone: teams, drivers, partners, employees and fans.
“With a foundation to build equity and invest in the future and a stronger voice in the decisions ahead, we now have the chance to grow together and make the sport even better for generations to come. I’m excited to watch our teams get back on the track and compete hard in 2026.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Michael Jordan’s lawsuit against NASCAR ends with a settlement
