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Nascar filed a complaint pack on Wednesday In the US District Court against 23xi races, leading motorsport and 23xi co-owner Curtis Polk.
Here are questions and answers about the matter:
Why does Nascar do this?
23xi Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and NASCAR chairman Jim France on October 2, referring that “Nascar retained his monopoly position illegally to offer a top-level share races in the United States.”
Nascar fought the case in court, but Wednesday filed against claims that the teams and Polk “and others agreed to print a scheme to print NASCAR to accept their compound conditions, including by media campaigns, interfere with the NASCAR’s broadcasting programs, a group meeting of the Boikots of the Board.
What did the teams and Curtis Polk do according to Nascar?
Nascar says in the court documents that 23xi Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Polk are “engaged in conspiracy and agreement in unreasonable limitation of interstate trade and trade, which constitutes a violation of Article 1 of the Sherman Act. Curtis Polk orchestrated consciously and actively and participated in this illegal conspiracy, while working as a member of the TNC on behalf of the RTA and helped the participation in the scheme of 23xi and the front row, which also forms a violation of Article 1 of the Sherman Act. “
Who is Curtis Polk?
He is the long -time business partner of Michael Jordan. When Jordan owned the NBA Charlotte Hornets, Polk was the vice -chairman of the team. Polk started working exclusively with Jordan in 2001.
Polk is a co-owner of 23xi Racing. When the teams began negotiating with Nascar on the new charter agreement, Polk was one of those in the negotiating committee for the teams.
Darlington, South Carolina – September 01: 2024 Regular Season Champion, Tyler Reddick, manager of the #45 Upper Deck Toyota, poses with Curtis Polk, 23xi Racing co -owners, NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan, and Denny Hamlin, manager of the #11 Sports Clips Haircuts Toyota, after the Nascar Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darling Clipton Race on Toyota. 01, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Curtis Polk (left) with Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Michael Jordan after Reddick won the regular seasonal title last year. (Photo: Getty Images)
Three main points made by Nascar
During a call with reporters, Chris Yates, the chief advocate of Nascar, emphasized three main points from Nascar’s perspective.
- The charter system was requested by teams in 2016 “But they offer little benefit to Nascar itself. … Nascar believes that the COP series teams and Nascar should be partners in a sport, which is why Nascar has agreed to create the charter system again at the request of teams. “
- NASCAR claims 23xi Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Polk “entered into illegal agreements and boycotted and threatened to boycott Nascar events to get even better conditions in the 2025 charges. What they did, ladies and gentlemen, was illegal. “
- Yates said that 23xi Racing and Front Row “are now trying to abuse the justice system as a last new (charter) conditions.”
What is Nascar claimed to have been boycotted or threatened to be boycotted?
Nascar said in court documents that in April 2023 the charter team had boycotted a meeting with NASCAR that was contractually obliged.
Nascar says in the court documents: “Polk, 23xi, Front Row and their fellow mergers have agreed to try to interfere with the Nascar’s media negotiations in order to extract even better conditions under the 2025 charter.
“23xi, leading row and others have threatened to boycott qualifying races for at least one Nascar Cup series.”
What about the future of the charter system?
Nascar chief advocate Chris Yates noted in a call with reporters that the charter system was a draft team – not NASCAR – but that Nascar went along with it and created the system before the 2016 season.
The new charter agreement was signed by 13 of the 15 cup teams in September. The agreement goes through the 2031 season. 23xi Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only teams that did not sign the new charter agreement.
“Let me be very clear,” Yates told reporters Wednesday morning, “Nascar is happy to continue with the charter system and works with all teams interested in working together to grow the sport. But by seeking a statement that the 2025 charter agreement is illegal and violates the antitrust laws, 23xi and front ROW are essentially that charges are illegal agreements.
“It opens Pandora’s box and questions whether the charter system can continue.”
Court documents and Yates noted that a key assessment of the charter system is a guaranteed starting place for each team, but that there is a provision that prohibits a charter holder from participating in another car racing series. In the court documents, Nascar says: “If the charters are considered competitive, either charters will disappear completely, or the cross extravagances that benefit both parties will be eliminated.”
What about a settlement?
Yates said that a standing order requires mediation before the hearing, and that “of course we will comply with it, but … it will not be a renegotiation of the 2025 charter. It’s not going to happen. … I don’t see a wonderful path to settlement. ‘
What happens to Wednesday’s counter?
This will be part of the jury trial scheduled on December 1 in the US District Court in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Yates said he would ask for a summary sentence.
What else is happening in this lawsuit?
Nascar asked the fourth Court of Appeal on February 12 to reversal a preliminary order that enables 23xi races and front row motorsport to compete as chartered teams, despite not signing the new agreement. The two teams have until March 14 to respond. Nascar’s response to it is on April 12. The Court of Appeal will hear arguments in May and a ruling is expected in June on the specific case.
Change something on the track?
No.
23xi Racing with Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst, and front drive motor sports with Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson and Zane Smith will compete without taking into account the lawsuits.
