The high-stakes legal battle between NASCAR and two of its prominent teams continues to unfold, drawing attention from fans and insiders alike. With the scheduled trial just weeks away, recent court filings highlight the tension building in this antitrust case that could reshape the sport’s future.

NASCAR recently moved to involve a judge in settlement discussions, seeking a judicial conference to potentially resolve the dispute. But 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, along with Front Row Motorsports, quickly pushed back. In their response, they argued for sticking with the current mediator, who has deep experience in sports league matters.

23XI: “It seems NASCAR is not happy with the diagnosis and wants to seek a second opinion. Plaintiffs submit that…starting over with a judicial

officer who will have to learn the case background and the parties’ history is less likely, not more likely, to lead to resolution.”

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 7, 2025

“NASCAR has not responded to those requests and instead filed this motion. It seems NASCAR is not happy with the diagnosis and wants to seek a second opinion. Plaintiffs submit that with a mere eight weeks until trial, starting over with a judicial officer who will have to learn the case background and the parties history is less likely, not more likely, to lead to resolution, which all interested parties appear to agree is in their collective best interests.”

23XI stated in the filing, as shared by reporter Jeff Gluck. They emphasized that with only eight weeks until the December 1 trial, switching to a new judicial officer unfamiliar with the case’s history would hinder progress. This resistance stems from the teams’ October 2024 lawsuit accusing NASCAR of anti-competitive practices in charter agreements, a claim the sanctioning body denies while honoring deals with other teams.