CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal antitrust case accusing NASCAR of being a monopolistic bully was settled Thursday after the stock car racing series agreed to make the charters at the heart of its business model permanent for its teams.

The lawsuit filed by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports had shadowed NASCAR for more than a year. The retired NBA great pushed ahead, telling the jury he felt he was one of the few who could challenge the series.

Jordan, 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin and Front Row owner Bob Jenkins joined NASCAR Chairman Jim France as they stood together outside the courthouse. The group announced that that charters — at the heart of NASCAR’s revenue model — will be made permanent for all Cup Series teams. Both 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, the two plaintiffs, will get them back after racing uncharted most of this past season.

“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said.

The financial terms were not disclosed. An economist earlier testified 23XI and Front Row were owed over $300 million in damages.

The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who set aside motions hearing for an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan, Hamlin and Bob Jenkins to another room for more talks.

23XI and Front Row filed their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season uncharted.

Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.

“What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential,” NASCAR and the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. “This is a landmark moment, one that ensures NASCAR’s foundation is stronger, its future is brighter and its possibilities are greater.”

Bell told the jury that sometimes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.

“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”

All teams felt the previous revenue-sharing agreement was unfair and two-plus years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s final offer, which was described by the teams as “take-it-or-leave it.” The teams believed the new agreement lacked all four of their key demands, most importantly the charters becoming permanent instead of renewable.

The settlement followed eight days of testimony in which the Florida-based France family, the founders and private owners of NASCAR, were shown to be inflexible in making the charters permanent.

When the defense began its case Wednesday it seemed focused more on mitigating damages than proving it did not act anticompetitively.

As NASCAR continues its defence against Jeffery Kessler and Co.’s relentlessness in the jury trial, the sport finds itself in a tricky spot, thanks to the developments of the second week of the proceedings. Jim France’s testimony, which the sport hoped would help turn the tide in their favor, has upended their entire stake.

To make matters worse for them, Judge Kenneth Bell denied the defendants the opportunity to present FOX Sports’ Jordan Bazant to showcase how a rival series would have hurt NASCAR. And while all that was going on, the teams have found an unlikely ally from an ex-Dale Earnhardt sponsor, calling for Steve Phelps’ removal from his NASCAR position.

NASCAR Teams Find an Unlikely Ally in Former RCR Sponsor Amid the Charter Lawsuit Chaos

After hanging up his driving gloves for good, Richard Childress decided to put the legendary Dale Earnhardt in one of his race cars, and the decision had an immediate impact. Together, RCR and Earnhardt bagged a series of race and championship wins, contributing to Childress becoming a stalwart of NASCAR.

As the partnership grew stronger, Bass Pro Shops ensured that the team’s on-track presence was strengthened with a notable sponsorship, creating one of the most iconic partnerships of the era.

While Bass Pro Shops remains actively involved in NASCAR, the respect and friendship with Childress is as strong as ever. And, thanks to the same, the company’s founder, Johnny Morris, is seeking Phelps’ dismissal as NASCAR President, given what he had said about Childress in the text chains that went public.

According to an X update from Bob Pockrass, which shares the official statement from Morris, the iconic sponsor detailed their displeasure over the “shockingly offensive and false” criticisms of Childress by the NASCAR Commissioner. The statement added that for Phelps and his allies to attack someone of Childress’ stature was a disservice to anyone involved in NASCAR.

Drawing comparisons with sports such as Baseball, exploring what would happen if a new commissioner came in and said something similar about one of the legends of their game. As such, Morris, through his statement, feels that such a commissioner shouldn’t be allowed to hold office for too long.

“Such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, keep his or her job for very long!”

Morris and his team were particularly unhappy with the terms used to describe Childress in Phelps’ past comments.

That said, he clarified that the statement comes with genuine respect for the France family that built the sport from the ground up. He added that it was painful for the sport’s fans to witness the ongoing fallout between the teams and management, expressing his desire for all involved parties to “dig deep and strive hard for compromise.”

Concluding his statement, Morris emphasized that it was crucial for the current management to look ahead and devise strategies to grow the sport and attract new generations of fans. However, he asserted that it shouldn’t be done in a way that leads the sport to turn its back on, or abandon, the “true pioneers and especially fans” who form the foundation of NASCAR.

I’ve never held a Sonic tool in my hand, but I’ve spent a lot of time looking at its wares online—the company makes incredibly classy and tidy-looking sets that are unfortunately well out of my price range. Today, it dropped a track-day specific set called the Mobile Track Kit, as a collab with Keis Motorsports. It ain’t cheap, but it sure is impressive looking.

The “MTK” is a 124-piece tool arsenal that tucks neatly into a branded Pelican-style travel case. The tool loadout was picked by Bryan Kiefer, CEO of Kies Motorsports, a tuning shop in NJ specializing in BMWs (but also does Porsche and other Euros). The items it comes with were chosen “… based on years of trackside experience, reflecting a detailed understanding of what performance vehicles need for on-site repairs and adjustments,” per the press release.

“The partnership with Sonic allows us to deliver the solution we’ve always wished existed: a durable, portable, organized track kit that reflects the reality of what performance vehicles actually need when away from the shop,” Kiefer said.

Sonic’s MTK is metric-based and seems to be optimized for BMWs and Porsches, though you should be able to get a lot done on any Euro or Japanese car with this kit. It almost looks like a hypebeast fashion collaboration; “KIES” is engraved in a lot of the tools, and has an emblem on the outside of the box.

There’s an extensive range of sockets, wobblers, extensions, bits, wrenches, and other standard stuff in there, along with specialty sockets, hooks, and pullers that you might need for more finicky jobs. This PDF has the full list of exactly what’s included:

I just really like how taut and organized the set looks … did I mention that already? It really puts the Sterilite box I toss my driving-event tools into to shame.

That said, it’s also priced considerably higher—the MTK retails for $2,315. I told you, Sonic’s stuff is always out of my price range! Beyond tool quality and the curation-coolness factor, the brand promises a lifetime warranty. “Our online warranty process takes 2-3 minutes, and your replacement tool is on the way to you. Replacement tools typically ship in 48 hours,” Sonic says.

You don’t need to make a comment about how much cheaper you can find all the items in this kit at Harbor Freight. We know. This is built to a higher standard and probably smells a lot better.

The only real downside I see to this thing (besides the price) is that the box supposedly weighs just over 100 pounds. That’ll make it tough to heave into a trunk on your way to the track. Maybe I don’t need to replace my plastic Walmart-sourced track-day tool loadout right away after all. But I did love looking at the pictures of this new kit and thought you might too.

And hey, if you do want to build your own set with lower-end gear, copy the parts list!

Sonic-Tools-x-Kies-MTK-Briefing

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NASCAR’s trial against 23XI Racing/FRM has been one of the biggest talking points in the offseason. With more figures coming forward to testify in the trial and the courtroom data being made available online, many in the community have been startled. Among the many interesting points in the legal battle, the one that has particularly caught the eye of most is Tony Stewart’s SRX series.

NASCAR’s stance and approach when it came to dealing with the growth of Smoke’s venture shocked many, including sport legend and Hall of Famer, Dale Earnhardt Jr. In his recent podcast, Earnhardt opened up about his feelings after learning about NASCAR’s moves against Stewart’s SRX Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Stance In The ‘NASCAR Vs. 23XI Racing/FRM’ Trial

On the recent episode of Dale Jr. Download, the former driver addressed several aspects of NASCAR’s ongoing trial and shared his thoughts about the revelations from the legal drama. The NASCAR Hall of Famer was joined by his sister, Kelley Earnhardt, who is also the brains behind their business empire.

Before breaking down the different aspects of the lawsuit, the siblings declared themselves neutral in the matter. As they began dissecting the latest updates from the court, both expressed disappointment and sadness over how the entire scenario had unfolded for the sport.

Following this, the Earnhardt siblings discussed how NASCAR owning tracks was acceptable, considering how tedious and difficult it can be to maintain and build new racetracks. Earnhardt also expressed his disapproval of teams having to contribute to the Driver Ambassador Program.

He believed that, for an initiative launched by NASCAR for the drivers, the governing body should take care of the finances instead of relying on the teams’ contributions.

Earnhardt’s Shock Over NASCAR’s Actions Against Tony Stewart’s SRX

Earnhardt then brought up the topic of Stewart’s SRX series and how NASCAR had handled the situation. The former driver revealed being “shocked” about the whole matter. He highlighted the vision of Ray Evernham, the co-founder of the series, to recreate IROC. He said:

“The initial idea of SRX as a series was that it would go into these local markets, bring out retired guys, unique personalities from different forms of racing, and offer good cars to local heroes.”

ALSO READ: Steve Phelps Stuns NASCAR Jury Trial With Long-Awaited Explanation Behind Explosive Texts About Tony Stewart’s SRX Series

Though Earnhardt himself was not interested in participating in the series, he still liked the idea. What startled him was the fact that SRX threatened NASCAR in some capacity. He added:

“To hear that NASCAR was even remotely the least bit threatened is so surprising to me cause they’re this giant and SRX is just this little thing.”

He further mentioned that SRX at the time was a 12-car operation with limited financing and would have taken years to reach a level even close to that of NASCAR. Earnhardt also referred to the comments made by the sport’s bosses regarding SRX and expressed disbelief at why an entity like NASCAR would be threatened by a newly launched entity operating in a different domain.

Though the reason behind SRX’s demise had more to do with the financial unsustainability and declining TV ratings, NASCAR’s actions against Stewart’s initiative certainly shocked many in the sport.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR reached a settlement Thursday of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.

The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who set aside motions hearing for an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, to another room for more talks.

In a statement to NBC News Jordan said the lawsuit was about “making sure (NASCAR) evolves in a way that supports everyone: teams, drivers, partners, employees, and fans. With a foundation to build equity and invest in the future and a stronger voice in the decisions ahead, we now have the chance to grow together and make the sport even better for generations to come.”

Details were not immediately released. In a joint statement from NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports said the agreement would “delivers long-term stability and creates the conditions for meaningful growth for all teams in a more competitive environment.”

23XI and Front Row filed their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season uncharted.

Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.

Bell told the jury that sometmes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.

“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”

All teams felt the previous revenue-sharing agreement was unfair and two-plus years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s final offer, which was described by the teams as “take-it-or-leave it.” The teams believed the new agreement lacked all four of their key demands, most importantly the charters becoming permanent instead of renewable.

The settlement followed eight days of testimony in which the Florida-based France family, the founders and private owners of NASCAR, were shown to be inflexible in making the charters permanent.

When the defense began its case Wednesday it seemed focused more on mitigating damages than proving it did not act anticompetitively.

An economist earlier testified 23XI and Front Row were owed over $300 million in damages.

Denny Hamlin, a co-owner, 23XI Racing said in a statement “Racing is all I’ve ever known, and this sport shaped who I am. That’s why we were willing to shoulder the challenges that came with taking this stand.”

With the NASCAR trial well into its second week of jury proceedings, witness testimonies continue to provide shocking updates on the case, with the league currently facing a worrying position. Jim France, the current CEO of the sport, was among those who took the stand most recently, and as his testimony concluded, many felt that the 81-year-old’s statements may have irreparably harmed NASCAR’s case.

However, Chris Yates and his team continued their defence as planned and were ready to bring another witness to the stand to prove their point. However, before they could do so, Judge Kenneth Bell ruled that the testimony was unnecessary, delivering a critical blow to the sport’s defensive strategy on the day.

NASCAR Handed Critical Blow to Their Defense by Judge Kenneth Bell

Day 1 of France’s testimony saw Jeffery Kessler relentlessly question the NASCAR chairperson with questions around the case, even digging into the personal finances earned by him via the sport. There were questions around the nearly $400 million payment to the France family trust between 2021 and 2024 that added fuel to the fire, but through it all, France remained true to his unmoved stance.

Day 2 of his testimony saw him face friendlier fire, with the NASCAR lawyers asking him questions. While it could have been a session to repair the sport’s image, France’s final statements around what he plans for the future might well have damaged NASCAR’s case even more.

To follow that up, Yates and his team had planned to bring in FOX Sports’ Jordan Bazant on the stand. They wanted Bazant to explain how a competitor series would hurt NASCAR, but Matt Weaver, through an X update, revealed that Judge Bell denied the testimony.

According to the update, Judge Bell was unsure whether the testimony was necessary, as he believed it wasn’t relevant to the dispute at hand.

“Yates wanted to introduce testimony from FOX Sports’ Jordan Bazant that showed a competitor series would hurt NASCAR. Judge Bell wasn’t sure that needed to be presented to the jury because it’s not additive to the dispute at hand. Judge Bell also says that if there was a competitor series in this hypothetical, the teams would be in it, and not NASCAR. So he ruled against allowing it.”

According to Lawrence Buterman, a NASCAR lawyer, the teams involved in the sport also receive a portion of the payment from FOX. Therefore, in the event of added competition from a rival series, the teams would have faced a pay loss.

To make matters worse for NASCAR, the 23XI and FRM attorneys have presented definitive proof of multi-million-dollar losses to the teams, even with no rival series currently in play. Most notably, Hendrick Motorsports has incurred $20 million in operational costs over the last few years, despite winning two championships during the same period.

That, and the “brick wall” persona of France during the jury trial, has added even more pressure on the NASCAR lawyers, whose case seems to have reached a danger point. And with both parties hoping to hear a verdict by the end of this week, it looks like NASCAR doesn’t have much time left to save its case.