The NASCAR stock car racing series, which was accused in US federal court of monopolistic behavior by teams owned by Michael Jordan, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, settled the lawsuit on Thursday, December 11, 2025, after agreeing to make the racing charter permanently the heart of its business model for the teams, the AP news agency reported.
What was NASCAR’s settlement like?
Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but an economist previously testified that the two teams owned by NBA icon Michael Jordan are owed more than $300 million in damages, according to the agency’s report.
The lawsuit, filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, has loomed over NASCAR for more than a year since the settlement date. The agency report also highlighted that team owner Jordan told the jury he thought he was one of the few people who stood up against the auto racing series.
Michael Jordan along with 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin and Front Row co-owner Bob Jenkings met with NASCAR chairman Jim Franco outside the federal courthouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States.
Owners told reporters that the NASCAR group will make team charters permanent for all Cup Series teams, in line with NASCAR’s revenue model.
According to an agency report, both 23XI and Front Row Motorsports will get their charters back after racing uncharted for most of this season.
“Today is a good day,” Jordan was quoted as saying by the news agency.
The NASCAR lawsuit
NASCAR’s settlement with the plaintiffs came on the ninth day of a trial before a U.S. federal judge named Kenneth Bell, who put the motions on the sidelines.
Last year, both 23XI and Front Row refused to sign their agreements on a new team charter offer presented to them by NASCAR in September 2024. The new charter guaranteed access to top-level Cup Series racing and a source of revenue, and 13 of the 15 organizations reluctantly agreed.
Jordan and Jenkins instead sued the federation and raced uncharted for most of the 2025 season. Both teams said losing the case would put them out of business.
The judge told the jury that sometimes litigants need to see how the evidence develops to arrive at the wisdom of a settlement.
“I wish we could have done this a few months ago,” Judge Bell said in court. “I believe it’s great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the NASCAR entity. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”
(With inputs from the AP news agency)
