NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. has addressed the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed against NASCAR by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
Earnhardt addressed the legal battle in the latest episode of his podcast, “The Dale Jr. Download.” Discussing the lawsuit, the former driver revealed his conflicting feelings on the matter and how NASCAR is being portrayed.
The antitrust lawsuit alleges monopolistic practices by NASCAR, citing its extensive control over various aspects of the sport, such as track ownership, parts distribution, and intellectual property rights. The players in this legal saga—23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports—assert that NASCAR’s firm grip on the sport hinders competitive balance.
During his podcast, Earnhardt explained:
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 20, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. Dale Earnhardt Jr. addresses the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.
James Gilbert/Getty Images
“I do not like how NASCAR has been characterized or Jim France has kind of been characterized in some of the comments I’ve read. So I hate to see, that’s unfortunate.
“To see NASCAR be talked about in a negative way. Because listen, I’ll criticize them all day long, you know, I have been very critical about them on our show here, and I will criticize them going forward when I feel like I don’t agree with a call or a decision they’re making in the sport.
“But it’s kind of like your – that’s my family. They have been everything that I’ve known. That garage, that industry, everyone in it. They’re – it’s very close to me and a lot of people in the industry. A lot of retired drivers, mechanics. So, we can criticize it and go ‘Oh that’s B.S. They shouldn’t do that.’
“But when someone else comes in the room and says anything negative you’re like, ‘Woah, you better watch it. Hey now.’ And so that’s the feeling that I get a bit about this.”
Earnhardt maintains an optimistic viewpoint amid this uncertainty. He believes both NASCAR and 23XI will endure the lawsuit with minimal major losses. He added:
“Everyone’s said this, it will be interesting how it plays out,” Dale Jr. continued. “I think everyone, it’s gonna cost everybody just a little bit to get through it but I think NASCAR absolutely survives it.
“And I feel like, to be quite honest with you, 23XI will come out of it satisfied as well. I don’t know what that looks like but I don’t believe that there will be any big, big winners. But I don’t think anybody will suffer any major losses in this either. I think it will have to sort itself out and the right decisions, right results will be given.”
