NASCAR states in court document that the lawsuit by the two teams is an "attempt to extort more favorable contract terms."

XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are suing NASCAR for antitrust violations, potentially jeopardizing their participation in future races.

NASCAR has released a statement after two of it's teams begun legal proceedings against them, fronted by NBA legend Michael Jordan

23XI Racing, which is co-owned by sporting legend Michael Jordan and veteran driver Denny Hamlin, in addition to Front Row Motorsports, owned by restaurant franchisee Bob Jenkins, sued NASCAR and chairman Jim France alleging that the league is a monopoly that unequitably enriches itself at the expense of its teams.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a motion Wednesday in U.S. District Court for a preliminary injunction that would allow both teams to compete as chartered teams despite not signing the new charter agreement that begins in 2025. Both teams have filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season is starting to wind down but the antitrust court case between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports and the sanctioning body is starting to heat up. On Wednesday, NASCAR filed its response to the plaintiffs/teams' motion for expedited discovery and unexpectedly included a claim of extortion.

Front Row Motorsports received two of the original Charters from NASCAR in 2016 and signed the extension for those Charters which expire Dec. 31, 2024. The team states in the suit that even though it made the playoffs in 2021 and 2023, it “has never generated a profit.”

The teams are pushing for expedited discovery of key documents and argue that NASCAR's practices hinder competition and fairness in the sport.

The attorney for the two teams, Jeffrey Kessler, told The Athletic they were asking for “very modest relief” from the judge.