NASCAR and the 23XI Racing 'Per Se Illegal Cartel'.

The article focuses on the ongoing antitrust litigation involving 23XI Racing, co-founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan, NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, and business partner Curtis Polk, and NASCAR itself. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) allege that NASCAR’s Charter system unlawfully monopolizes the premier stock car racing market by guaranteeing entry to select teams, restricting competition, and imposing restrictive contract terms, including expanded non-compete clauses and waivers of legal claims. NASCAR countersued, accusing the plaintiff teams of forming a “per se illegal cartel” to coerce better contract terms through collective bargaining tactics. A preliminary injunction allowed 23XI and FRM to compete without waiving antitrust claims, but NASCAR has appealed, arguing the injunction disrupts the status quo and that the Charter system was voluntarily established. The case, with trial set for December 2025, raises significant questions about competition, contract restrictions, and governance in professional stock car racing.