The ongoing antitrust battle between NASCAR and 23XI Racing took another dramatic turn this week after NASCAR filed a 59-page exhibit list ahead of the Dec. 1 trial. What was expected to be a routine legal filing has instead become one of the most buzzworthy developments in the case, not because of the legal language, but because of the name that appears throughout it: NBA icon and 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan, along with the details surrounding him.
Inside NASCAR’s Legal Strategy Ahead of Heated Trial Against Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing
Among the documents listed are financial records, driver contracts, internal negotiations, and, unexpectedly, private text exchanges involving high-profile figures like Denny Hamlin, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins, and 23XI Racing co-owner Jordan. One line item in particular has already raised eyebrows (via FanBuzz): “Catch 23” (MJ’s private yacht) and Airspeed.
For those unfamiliar, Airspeed is 23XI’s cutting-edge race shop in Huntersville, North Carolina, a facility that has quickly become one of the most talked-about team headquarters in the sport.
Although why a photo of it appears in the filing isn’t entirely clear, its presence suggests one thing: the sanctioning body’s attorneys are leaving no stone unturned. From team infrastructure to ownership economics, nearly every element of 23XI’s operation could be examined under the courtroom spotlight.
The lawsuit itself traces back to October 2024, when 23XI allied with Front Row Motorsports and accused NASCAR of limiting fair competition through the charter system, the framework that determines team entry and long-term value in the Cup Series. After months of back-and-forth filings, sealed arguments, and procedural battles, the case is finally set to play out before a jury in Charlotte in a couple of days.
NASCAR’s exhibit list provides a glimpse into the breadth of the defense approach. The documents address negotiations surrounding the proposed 2025 Charter Agreement, recent media rights talks, sanctioning deals with tracks, and an unexpectedly extensive catalog of driver contracts. Names like Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Noah Gragson, Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, and Todd Gilliland appear, along with a lesser-known contract tied to Ty Dillon’s temporary role in the 2021 Busch Clash.
Money is expected to play a significant role once arguments begin. On their own exhibit list, the teams included sensitive financial records tied to NASCAR CEO Jim France, including tax returns and compensation documents such as W-2s and 1099 filings.
And then there’s Airspeed, again. Multiple images of the building reportedly appear in the filing, almost as if to underscore the scale of Jordan and Hamlin’s investment.
In essence, the message between the lines seems clear: if 23XI and FRM plan to frame themselves as outgunned independents taking on the establishment, NASCAR may counter with evidence that they look more like a rising superteam than underdogs.
Much like the exhibit filing submitted earlier by 23XI and Front Row, this document contains dozens of unsealed emails and text threads from owners, executives, and negotiators. The trial won’t shy away from private conversations that typically never see the light of day.
Not every item listed will necessarily be used in the courtroom. But the message behind the filing is unmistakable: both sides are prepared to dig deep, and very little appears off-limits.
What began as a dispute over business structure is now poised to expose the inner workings of modern NASCAR, from boardroom strategy to personal text messages, to a jury and the wider racing world.
