Michael Jordan is moving forward with a lawsuit demanding better outcomes from NASCAR.

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Jordan became an owner of a NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, in September 2020. According to NBC Sports, Jordan’s team — also owned by driver Denny Hamlin — operates under NASCAR’s charter system, which demands its 36 charter teams compete in all events. For their participation they are granted incentives such as payments, but this is contingent upon the team’s presence, performance in that event as well as over the course of the most recent three seasons, and the season-ending points fund.

Despite the listed incentives, teams are not fairing well under the current structure, per AP News. In fact one team, Furniture Row Motorsports, was led to sell its charter for $6 million just a year after becoming the Cup Series winner in 2017 because it could not make a profit.

Despite concerns, 13 organizations moved forward to sign NASCAR’s 100-page renewal contract on the charter system, basically a revenue sharing model, in September 2024. However their decision was reportedly guided by fear as failure to sign would result in the loss of charters, mentions AP News.

Now, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have filed an antitrust lawsuit in Charlotte, NC, after neither team agreed to NASCAR’s offer. They believe NASCAR’s agreement went against the Sherman Antitrust Act.

“Faced with a take-it-or-leave-it offer, and no competing opportunity for premier stock car racing in the United States, most of the teams concluded that they had to sign,” the lawsuit stated, per the outlet. “One team described its signing as ‘coerced,’ and another said it was ‘under duress.’”

The two teams suing also mentioned NASCAR Chairman Jim France in the lawsuit, AP reports:

“The France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies. 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.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are now seeking for NASCAR to provide an increase in revenue, a portion of the earnings obtained through name, image, and likeness deals related to participants, as well as a seat at the table as it pertains to governance and decision-making, the outlet mentions.

They are also looking for charters to become permanent.

“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,” said retired NBA superstar Jordan, per AP. “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. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.”

A NASCAR spokesperson said the organization would not comment on pending litigation.