The recent trial between Michael Jordan and NASCAR, involving the charter agreement, has officially concluded after nine days. On Thursday, attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who represented Jordan 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, told Judge Kenneth Bell that the two parties had reached a settlement.
That settlement is a new charter system called “evergreen charters”, meaning teams are going to get permanent team charters, which was the main point of Jordan, driver Danny Hamlin and their team’s lawsuit. Although the financial agreements between the two sides will not be publicly disclosed.
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To quickly back-pedal, Jordan and his team filed a lawsuit against NASCAR late last year due to the organization’s monopolistic business approach under the charter agreement, which resulted in NASCAR receiving the majority of the earned revenue. The high cost of racing further benefited NASCAR.
The old charter expired in 2024, which meant teams had to sign a new charter contract that would last up until 2031. However, teams were given one day to sign the contract, with every team eventually signing, except 23XI Racing, which had to race as an open-charter for the 2024-25 season. As it stands, that problem is no more.
“This outcome gives all parties the flexibility and confidence to continue delivering unforgettable racing moments for our fans, which has always benefited our highest priority since the sport was founded in 1948,” Jim France said. “We worked closely with race teams to create the NASCAR charter system in 2016, and it has proven invaluable to their operations and to the quality of racing across the Cup Series.”
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“Today’s agreement reaffirms our commitment to preserving and enhancing that value, ensuring our fans continue to enjoy the very best of stock car racing for generations to come,” he added.
MJ’s statement and the internet’s reactions
During the trial, Jordan stated that he felt compelled to properly challenge NASCAR, as his attorneys advised him that the charter agreement was in violation of antitrust laws. During the rest of the trial, Jordan and his team did everything in their power to stop that and revolutionize NASCAR for the better.
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“From the beginning, this lawsuit was about progress,” Jordan said in a statement after the settlement. “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.”
As a result of the settlement, Jordan and his team will regain possession of their charters.
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Once again, Jordan proved what made him the GOAT: his unparalleled competitiveness, desire to win and natural leadership, because he did what other teams were afraid to do — stand up and make a better change for themselves.
The future of NASCAR
Jordan didn’t just challenge a contract; he challenged NASCAR’s identity, which is now a thing of the past. With NASCAR no longer operating through its franchises, teams will depend less on sponsorships, demanding more TV money to contribute to and build up their racing tools, thereby drastically easing the ongoing financial problems and improving competition.
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Jordan and his team cornered NASCAR from the start, resulting in a much faster resolution of the lawsuit than expected. This proved that NASCAR did, in fact, employ a monopolistic business strategy, one that will no longer go unnoticed.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
