Basketball icon Michael Jordan has entered a legal showdown with NASCAR, alleging the premier motorsports organization operates an unlawful monopoly that financially damages his racing team. The landmark trial commenced Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Jordan personally attending courtroom proceedings alongside co-owner Denny Hamlin, the three-time Daytona 500 champion.\n\nJordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, owned by fast-food franchise magnate Bob Jenkins, initiated the lawsuit in October 2024. They contend NASCAR’s restrictive practices have suppressed competition and profitability through mandatory use of Next Gen cars, exclusive parts sourcing requirements, and overwhelming control over racing regulations and venues. Central to the dispute is NASCAR’s charter system, which guarantees participating teams entry into all 38 annual races while providing defined financial payouts.\n\nAccording to plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler, the current revenue model proves unsustainable for most teams. He revealed during opening statements that over 70% of teams operated at a loss in 2024, citing a NASCAR-commissioned study. Meanwhile, the France family trust reportedly received nearly $400 million over three years from the racing empire valued at approximately $5 billion by Goldman Sachs estimates.\n\nNASCAR CEO Jim France, who inherited the organization from his father, founder Bill France Sr., denies any misconduct. Defense attorney Johnny Stephenson portrayed the France family as American success story pioneers who built NASCAR \”through hard work over 75 years.\”\n\nThe outcome could reshape American motorsports fundamentally. Should plaintiffs prevail, Judge Kenneth Bell possesses broad authority to dismantle perceived monopolistic structures—potentially mandating NASCAR’s sale or terminating the charter system entirely. Conversely, a NASCAR victory could force 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to cease operations, with their six combined charters likely sold to private equity firms.\n\nThe trial anticipates approximately two weeks of testimony before six jurors, with Jordan’s celebrity status already influencing jury selection when one candidate openly admitted: \”I like Mike.\”