NASCAR’s new charter agreement has sparked fresh drama, with 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, leading the opposition. While NASCAR pushes for teams to sign, MJ & Co. refused, demanding a more balanced negotiation, only to be met with silence. Further, NASCAR’s non-disparagement clause has caused a lot of chatter. Adding to the already growing tension, Hendrick Motorsports, led by Jeff Gordon, signed the agreement, leaving 23XI further isolated. Their only support now comes from Front Row Motorsports.

Now Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, holds four charters in the Cup Series and boasts a roster of top-tier drivers, including Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, and William Byron. As one of the most influential teams in the sport, every decision they make carries significant weight.

Team owner Rick Hendrick, well-versed in NASCAR’s inner workings, prioritized securing his team’s future when the new charter agreement emerged. Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports’ vice chairman, revealed that the decision was rooted in pragmatism. He stated that most team owners, including Hendrick, felt they would not get a better offer from NASCAR. But do you remember what Jeff Gordon told Dale Earnhardt Jr. earlier this year when the charter talks had just started?

He said, “There’s three-four major things that the team’s been very consistent on talking to NASCAR about- what we think is going to not only help the teams you know be profitable. We don’t make money, right? I don’t think Hendrick Motorsports has made a profit in 10 years.”

Speaking of the current scenario, r/NASCAR on Reddit started a thread where it was mentioned that Jeff Gordon “simply shrugged about the decision to sign the charter agreement,” when asked by The Associated Press.

Surprised? Well, HMS is not the only team that has given up its ambitions. Brad Keselowski’s RFK Racing took a similar line while being the first team owner to sign the deal. Talking about the new charter agreement after he’s signed it, Keselowski said, “I think there are things obviously we would like to have better, but I think there are pieces that we really like, and there are pieces not so much. But it’s hard to use the word ‘fair.’ I don’t know if I know what that means.”

Front Row Motorsports was another team apart from 23XI Racing, which has remained apprehensive about the new charter agreement. Bob Jenkins, the owner of FRM, talked about the last-minute pressure situation that NASCAR created on teams and said, “I know a lot of people were uncomfortable but felt like they had to sign.”

While teams may have succumbed to NASCAR’s wishes, fans are not happy with the way NASCAR has seemingly forced the charter agreement on the teams.

Fans call it NASCAR’s failure to instill confidence in teams…

Ever since the row over the new charter agreement surfaced, almost everyone has been visibly disappointed. From the teams for not standing up to what they feel is a dictatorial approach of the sanctioning body to NASCAR’s failure to maintain the values that made the sport what it is today, things look gloomy.

For die-hard NASCAR supporters, money has begun to mandate decisions. A fan summed it up, “NASCAR is basically paying the teams to lose money, just to keep their sport going… the TV money boost is just a signing bonus, the actual contract is trash.”

The impression that the current deal is making is that it’s the money that matters to NASCAR. On the other hand, some fans have even gone further ahead while calling out NASCAR’s greed. Further, fans even called out Jeff Gordon’s incompetence in standing up to the demands of NASCAR. A curious fan commented, “It’s confusing because wasn’t Jeff saying they don’t make money? If he wanted to make a point, he should’ve held out to change the future. But they are stuck at square 1.”

Remember how Jeff Gordon has shared that Hendrick Motorsports was not making a profit? Then why are they still in the business? Well, as per Gordon, “It’s only because Rick Hendrick loves the sport, he loves cars and it’s been a good brand.”

It looks like the fans remember his previous words and they felt that Hendrick Motorsports should have supported 23XI Racing and MJ as they are passionate about the sport. However, only time will tell whether the standoff between NASCAR and 23XI Racing will come to an end.

In the quest to criticize NASCAR, fans appreciated Michael Jordan and his team, 23XI Racing, for standing up to the growing money culture in the sport. “NASCAR is the Maf-a, only more ruthless. But the France Family has never had to face an adversary like MJ. I’m rooting for MJ,” one fan wrote.

Though fans appreciated 23XI Racing for its firm stance on the issue, there are fans who believe they will ultimately back down like others. But there seems to be another way. The team could consider legal action, go to court, and force NASCAR, a privately owned family company, to show its records publicly. However, Jordan’s confidant Curtis Polk has not commented on whether they plan to take any legal action.

• “One 1 hand, it surprises me how many are on the corporate side & siding with NASCAR. But then again, this is how we got into a fa-ist society in America. Many of you just want to be led, no matter the price.”
• “That’s an apathetic approach. At least 23XI and FRM have the stones to stand up for what they feel is not an equitable deal. If the other 13 owners want to get dumped on by NASCAR, they should never complain about the cost of racing, ever, again.” 

Originally, the teams wanted NASCAR to consider these conditions:

1. A big chunk of the revenue.
2. A chance to participate in governance issues.
3. A share from business deals that NASCAR does using team or driver likenesses.
4. For charters to become permanent

Now, the new charters have come with increased revenue, but how much? That’s still murky.

What are your thoughts on the charter matter? Do tell us in the comments down below.