NASCAR president pressed on 'dictatorship' comment during antitrust trial

The direct examination of President Steve O’Donnell is completed in the NASCAR antitrust trial. The executive was pressed on a number of topics. As one of the sport’s leaders, O’Donnell’s testimony is of particular interest for the court and fans at home.

If you have been keeping up with the lawsuit, you may have seen the text messages between O’Donnell and other NASCAR executives. In one particular thread, O’Donnell wrote that a certain charter agreement proposal would send NASCAR back to “1996, f**k the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport.”

Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row, questioned O’Donnell if that “dictatorship” message was in reference to Jim France. According to Matt Weaver of Motorsport, he replied, “It could be anyone.”

Steve O’Donnell testified that he was frustrated on behalf of the teams. However, it was chalked up to the usual frustrations that occur in a negotiation like NASCAR, and the teams were going through. O’Donnell will be cross-examined now by NASCAR’s legal team.

Kessler is attempting to paint a picture of, essentially, a dictatorship. 23XI Racing and Front Row allege that NASCAR uses its leverage and power as a monopoly in the premier stock car racing market to its benefit and the teams’ detriment.

So far, the teams have called four witnesses. Two of those witnesses have been from NASCAR leadership. Things are taking a rather long time, given the schedule for this trial. It is very likely that the trial will extend into a third week.

NASCAR trial closing Day 4 of antitrust trial

Denny Hamlin, Scott Prime, Bob Jenkins, and Steve O’Donnell have all taken the stand so far in the NASCAR antitrust trial. The teams are making their argument. Kessler is building a story for the jury. At times, it can feel like the pressure is all on NASCAR. However, until the Defendants are on “offense,” if you will, you never know.

This trial is going to rehash a lot of the drama that we saw play out this year. Exhibits have been public information for quite a while. Discovery brings out more than either side ever wants to go public. But it is a necessary part of litigation, and clearly didn’t scare anyone into settling out of court.

Michael Jordan is going to be in the courtroom every day of this trial. That can mean a lot to a jury in North Carolina, even if some jurors were dismissed for admittedly being Jordan fans. It can’t hurt to have the most popular athlete in the world on your side of the court.

The NASCAR world is hyper-focused on this trial. Things could be drastically different in 2026 or 2027 if this ends up going to appeal. This could only be the beginning, in a sense.