MICHAEL JORDAN VS. NASCAR: ANTITRUST TRIAL THREATENS TO 'RIP APART' SERIES
Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports launch an antitrust trial against NASCAR over its charter system, exposing financial data and scandalous executive communications.
Michael Jordan's legal battle with NASCAR is going to federal court on Monday. The jury trial could shake up the top motorsports series in the U.S.
The NBA legend, 62, was seen arriving at the Western District of North Carolina for a trial that could change NASCAR forever. The antitrust claims, brought by Jordan's 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, have revealed some juicy personal messages, NASCAR's financial details, and a lot of bad blood between some of the sport's top people and those who participate in it.
Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI with Jordan and almost won the Cup Series championship recently, said that things will get real during the two-week trial.
Our fans have been fed NASCAR's talking points for years, Hamlin posted on social media. The lies end Monday morning. It's time for the truth. It's time for a change.
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps said that the series tried its best to settle the case before the trial.
The lawsuit was filed by 23XI Racing, owned by Jordan, Hamlin, and Jordan's longtime business manager, Curtis Polk. They were joined by Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, which won the 2021 Daytona 500. These two teams were the only ones out of 15 that didn't agree to renew their charter agreements with NASCAR in late 2024.
All 15 teams had been pushing for better terms in the charter agreements for over two years. The final terms didn't quite meet their expectations. 23XI and Front Row accused NASCAR of being a monopoly and sued based on antitrust laws.
The charter system, started in 2016, is like the franchise model used by most other pro sports leagues. A charter guarantees a car a spot in the 40-car field for every race, plus a set payout from the weekly prize money.
Even with the charters, the teams argue that the money setup isn't working. They wanted the charters to be permanent (right now, they can be renewed or taken away), a bigger cut of the revenue, and a say in how things are run.
23XI and Front Row didn't think the new charter agreements did enough to meet those needs, so they didn't sign. They say NASCAR has too much control over the racing series and allege a monopoly based on exclusive deals, owning most of the race tracks, and controlling the rules.
23XI and Front Row also want a lot of money from NASCAR to cover their legal fees and the money they've lost this year from not having charters.
NASCAR, founded 76 years ago by the France family, says it hasn't broken antitrust law because it hasn't done anything to limit trade beyond normal business practices.
NASCAR says that payouts in the 2025 charter agreement went up, which shows it's not anticompetitive. They also point out that cars can enter races as open teams and try to qualify for one of the four spots for non-chartered teams. 23XI and Front Row have been open teams, and while their six cars made every race, it cost them millions in prize money.
The legal process before the trial showed that NASCAR made over $100 million in 2024.
The legal discovery phase has been tough, with some embarrassing personal messages from NASCAR leaders and the two teams coming to light.
Phelps and other NASCAR leaders called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress a dinosaur, an idiot, and a stupid redneck. They also said Childress owes his entire fortune to NASCAR and needs to be taken out back and flogged.
Another NASCAR person said that fans of the sport aren't smart, and some series leaders criticised Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart's summer racing series, SRX, and threatened to shut it down because NASCAR drivers were involved.
On the other side, the president of 23XI said that NASCAR chairman Jim France would have to die for them to get good charter terms. Hamlin admitted he doesn't like the France family, one of Jordan's advisors said Hamlin wasn't a good businessman, and Jordan joked that he loses more money in a casino than he pays one of his drivers.
NASCAR wants Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, two of the most powerful team owners, to testify, but neither wants to. They've asked not to even be questioned, but if they have to be, they want the questions limited to charters.
Hendrick and Penske are among a lot of owners who have supported NASCAR in defence of the charter system. This shows that the teams that aren't suing don't want the charter system to be ended, which could happen if NASCAR loses the case.
But many of the team owners still said that the 2025 charter agreements don't give them everything they want.
Also, NASCAR has asked that Polk and Hamlin not be allowed to sit in court before they testify. A decision on that hadn't been made as of Sunday night.
Jordan, who is from North Carolina, got permission to be in the courtroom for the whole trial. A spokesperson for the two teams said that Jordan and Jenkins plan to be very involved in their case.
The case could still be settled at any time, even after a ruling is made and it goes to appeal.
If 23XI and Front Row win, the jury will decide how much money they get, and the judge can change that number and even triple it. The judge would also be in charge of fixing any monopoly that's found.
NASCAR could be ordered to have the France family sell the sport or the tracks it owns, end the charter system, or make the charters permanent. Anything is possible.
If NASCAR wins, 23XI and Front Row might not stay in business after 2026, and the six charters being held aside would likely be sold to others. The last charter sold for $45 million, and NASCAR says there's a lot of interest from potential buyers, including investment firms.
LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE
Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.
Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.
Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.
Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.
On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.
The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.
Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.
Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.
Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.
There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.
HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY
Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.
The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.
There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.
Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.
“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”
Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.
Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.
That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.
Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.
Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.
The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.
Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.
