23XI Racing makes Michael Jordan chess move after NASCAR courtroom request ahead of trial

23XI Racing made a big move involving team co-owner Michael Jordan ahead of the trial against NASCAR in December. Per Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, 23XI will designate Jordan as its corporate representative, meaning he can be in the courtroom for all witness testimony.

23XI also argued that co-owners Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk should be in the courtroom as well since they are “essential to presentation of their case,” Pockrass said. At the pretrial hearing last week, NASCAR asked the court to exclude two of 23XI’s three owners from the courtroom.

Jeff Gluck of The Athletic explained why 23XI made the right call in having Jordan in the courtroom. “This had to be the move. Jeffrey Kessler obviously wants a jury of North Carolina residents to see Michael Jordan every day in the courtroom,” he said.

23XI and Front Row Motorsports filed a lawsuit against NASCAR last year, and the trial will begin on Dec. 1. After the two racing teams filed the lawsuit, Jordan explained why they made the move.

Michael Jordan explains why 23XI Racing filed the lawsuit against NASCAR

“I did it for the smaller teams as well. It’s not just me,” Jordan said on Oct. 6 of last year. “I think everybody should have an opportunity to be successful in any business. My voice is saying that it hasn’t been happening. … Hopefully we [at both sides] can come to our senses and figure out something that can make sense for everybody.”

The lawsuit was filed because the teams argued that since NASCAR owns the Cup Series and the majority of tracks, while also requiring the teams to purchase parts and pieces for their cars from a NASCAR-approved supplier, as well as not allowing teams and tracks to participate in other racing series without NASCAR’s approval, the organization is violating an antitrust law. 23XI and FRM did not sign the new charter agreement, as they believed it was not fair when it came to revenue distribution to the teams.

Jordan, Hamlin, and Polk launched 23XI in 2020. The team has three full-time Cup Series drivers — Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Riley Herbst. In 2025, Wallace won the Brickyard 400 and reached the second round of the playoffs. Reddick didn’t win a race this past season, but he reached the playoffs and finished ninth in the final Cup Series standings.