Back in February, the sport’s old guard showed a rare flicker of support for the rebels. Richard Hendrick, a name etched deep into NASCAR’s fabric, didn’t mince words when asked about the antitrust lawsuit brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. He didn’t join the suit, but his stance was clear. “I think we worked really hard for two years and it got down to, you’re not going to make everybody happy. And I think it got down to, I was just tired,” Mr. H said.

Meanwhile, Richard Childress tipped his hat to both 23XI Racing and FRM for standing up against the governing body.  “There were only three or four things that we were missing on that everyone was still trying to negotiate. And when those negotiations [were] over, these two guys went on their own, which I’m glad to see them do it because they stood up for what they felt [were] right.” That comment struck a chord. It wasn’t just support, it sounded like a quiet wish that maybe, just maybe, he could have done the same. Childress, 79, had already signed the charter deal.

Those words carried weight, coming from someone who once stood toe-to-toe with NASCAR himself. But even as Childress voiced support, he didn’t act. That’s what makes the latest twist so striking. The court had asked if all 15 charter-holding teams, including three powerhouses, should be added to the lawsuit. Many expected a tidal wave. Instead, the tide turned. A surprising decision now puts Rick Hendrick and others in the clear, for now, while Michael Jordan and his partners face mounting legal heat.

Rick Hendrick and others bow out of legal turmoil!

This all began in October 2024, when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a bombshell lawsuit against NASCAR. They accused the sanctioning body of operating like a monopoly, locking teams into long-term charter deals that limit freedom and growth. The stakes were huge. As it turns out, the court posed a pressing question: Should it drag the other 13 charter teams into this? That would’ve turned a two-team case into a sport-wide war.

But now, the Race Team Alliance has stepped up. They recently filed a formal brief asking the court not to bring the other 13 teams into the lawsuit. NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass reported, “Race Team Alliance filed brief in 23XI/FRM-NASCAR case stating the other 13 teams shouldn’t be part of the case (b/c the judge has asked if they should). Argues 2025 charter agreement requires arbitration for such disputes & their addition would likely push the case into the 2026 season.” They clearly want to avoid dragging the entire Cup Series into a multi-year legal mess.

Remember, there was a time when RTA was a united front, when the negotiations stretched until the regular season race at Darlington last year. And even now, when they had a chance to support the two teams, they decided to sit out. After all, they’ve signed the new charter deal, and the two teams haven’t, so challenging the status quo wasn’t exactly in their best interest. But there’s still hope for MJ and his team.

NASCAR and 23XI Racing & Front Row Motorsports also filed their response. While teams seek dismissal of NASCAR’s counterclaim or addition of the other 13 teams into the case, NASCAR doesn’t want to include other teams. “NASCAR does not believe that non-party Charter holders need to be joined… unless 23XI and Front Row are seeking to alter the terms of the Charters held by non-party racing teams,” NASCAR filed in court. In short, NASCAR sees this as a contained fight.

That legal strategy signals a clear split. While 23XI and FRM argue the entire charter system is flawed, the RTA and NASCAR are working to isolate the fallout. This division weakens the plaintiffs’ leverage. If they hoped for backup, they’re now standing alone. Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress, and others are playing it safe and watching from the sidelines. This isolation could carry heavy consequences. The future of 23XI and FRM in the Cup Series now hangs by a thread.

The preliminary injunction granted last year gave them temporary charter status. But the appeals court may pull that safety net soon, as they hinted at the last hearing. If that happens, they lose guaranteed entries and financial benefits mid-season. Denny Hamlin knows the stakes. When asked about the appeal, he said, “It’s so hard to say… Until they make a ruling, it’s just too hard to speculate. We’ve got a trial set for December, which we’re very much looking forward to,” the 23XI co-owner said.

If the injunction is overturned, 23XI and FRM cars would lose their charter protections. They’d have to race as open entries. There’s no guarantee they’d make every event. The financial cost? Around $5 million per car over the rest of the season. That’s a $30 million problem across both teams. And then there’s the driver market. Tyler Reddick might jump ship if the team loses charter status. Contracts often require a chartered car. Without that, top talent could walk away.

This lawsuit is no longer just about principle, it’s about survival. As the legal clock ticks toward December, 23XI and FRM face a lonely road. NASCAR’s legal machine is in full force. The rest of the garage? Quiet. But there may still be one source of help, Michael Jordan’s ties to the NBA. And they just might be the X-factor in this legal race.

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NBA Might Come to Rescue Michael Jordan!

Michael Jordan has always known how to rally support. He wields influence in boardrooms and on the basketball court—and now, he might use that same power off the track. Jordan’s 23XI Racing is battling NASCAR in a bitter lawsuit. With legal costs mounting and court decisions looming, support from outside motorsports could be crucial. Earlier this year, Jordan’s legal team subpoenaed major sports leagues, including the NBA and NFL, to draw yardstick comparisons on how the leagues and teams operate and how the revenue split works for them.

The goal? Prove that NASCAR’s model limits team power compared to other sports. Notably, the NBA was willing to help, but there was a catch. Attorney Jeff Kessler, who once helped negotiate NBA labor deals, represents 23XI. That creates a problem. NBA officials worried that sharing documents with Kessler might later be used against them in future disputes. Still, the NBA and NFL didn’t shut the door. They expressed willingness to support Jordan’s case, but not if it puts their own business at risk.

Bob Pockrass reports that the NBA and NFL fear giving attorney Jeffrey Kessler’s law firm any information that could later work against them in unrelated cases. In short, the same legal team fighting for 23XI today could turn into a threat for the NBA tomorrow. Jordan’s legacy as an NBA icon may have opened some doors, but it might not carry enough weight this time. The league refuses to risk legal exposure in future battles. Even so, Jordan’s influence and network remain powerful. If the situation escalates, expect a coalition of sports power brokers to intervene. One way or another, MJ isn’t done yet.