As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs kicked off last weekend, the focus of NASCAR has shifted to a pressing issue: 23XI Racing’s ongoing dispute over the sport’s charter agreement. Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s team, together with Front Row Motorsports, has openly criticized the new charter agreement and are yet to sign the new deal.
The friction between 23XI Racing and NASCAR leadership has reached a boiling point, with both sides holding firm in their positions. Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck of The Athletic took a deep dive into this subject in a recent episode of “The Teardown” podcast, where Bianchi shed light on the complexities of this scenario.
“It’s very fascinating to see how this plays off,” Bianchi said. “Because you have two sides who, NASCAR is very used to, historically, getting its way and running its sport however it wants to. There’s a long history, dating back to really the first year NASCAR was founded.
“Like, this is how Bill France, or Bill Sr. is going to do it, this is how Bill Jr. is going to do it, and Jim France is kind of continuing that legacy of, ‘This is my sport. It’s a private business, we’ll run it how we want to.'”
Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing, looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box during the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 01, 2023 in Talladega, Alabama. The ongoing charter battle between 23XI Racing, led by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and NASCAR poses a significant threat to the stability of the sport.
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The crux of the problem lies in the charter system itself. Designed to provide teams with a more solidified business model by ensuring stable admission to races, the system also includes financial incentives. However, it has increasingly become a point of contention.
Bianchi continued:
“There’s a lot of pros and cons in this.
“I wish I had the answer to this, because you know, this isn’t public record… if the charter agreement says, like, if the contract ends on Dec. 31, 2024, and there’s no more charter agreement, it disappears… They could just let them expire.”
The potential exit of 23XI Racing would send shockwaves through NASCAR. The team, backed by the iconic Michael Jordan, has significantly boosted the sport’s visibility and attracted a swath of new fans, sponsors, and celebrities.
Their involvement has revitalized interest in NASCAR, bringing unprecedented attention to the sport. Losing such a pivotal player would really affect the sport.
As Bianchi pointed out, the stand-off is particularly intriguing because “you also have another side, in Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk, who are very much used to getting things they want, and doing things their way.
“So, it’s going to be interesting.”
