23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are holding strong despite other teams buckling under NASCAR’s pressure. They have refused to sign the new charter deal, and this puts them at risk of losing their charter. If this happens, the drivers will be losing out big time. No doubt, this tussle has left Bubba Wallace worried about his future competing in the Cup Series. “It’s frustrating to see where we’re at because that impacts my life and livelihood and everything moving forward to the future,” the driver shared.

While Michael Jordan & Co. are demanding fair negotiations, the time is ticking for Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. It has to be noted that Wallace is in his contract year, which makes his position ever so more vulnerable. So, what is the latest in this saga? This is what the team co-owner, Denny Hamlin had to say.

How much dialogue has there been with NASCAR since you guys decided not to sign the deal last week? A reporter asked Hamlin this question ahead of the second playoff race at Watkins Glen. And Hamlin’s reply wasn’t an encouraging one for his drivers, as reported by Frontsretch on YouTube.

“Not much, no.” Going by Hamlin’s comment, it looks like the two parties are still in a stalemate and no progress has been made so far. Their demands seem to have been met with silence on NASCAR’s end as just a week ago, Curtis Polk, Michael Jordan’s long-time manager, stated, “NASCAR has consistently refused to deal with 23XI in these negotiations.” 

This friction between the two parties has led many to think of hypothetical scenarios – One that includes the uncertain future of the drivers and crew at 23XI Racing and a potential legal battle between the team and NASCAR. But Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t sold on this idea and trashed the theory stating NASCAR would broker a deal with Michael Jordan and his team.

All hopes for peace between NASCAR and 23XI Racing are not lost

NASCAR, as a business proposition, made sense to Michael Jordan and his team. That is why they have invested big bucks so far into their operations. This is what Dale Jr. was trying to explain on his podcast show. “So 23XI believes that, but they can’t get that growth potential unless NASCAR creates that value for them in this new agreement. That’s why they’re fighting because that model makes sense to them.”

Although MJ comes from a sporting background where a franchise model would prove beneficial, NASCAR is a different giant altogether. The France family has been pulling the string ever since its inception and would want to continue to do so. Now, charters aren’t necessarily similar to franchises; Their initial purpose was to secure a position for the teams and share the TV purse. Although it slowly has turned out to be like a franchise, the business prospect here isn’t fair and equitable, with teams having to look out for themselves.

So where does this ideological battle between the two giants of the sporting world lead? Here’s what Dale Jr. had to say on the raging debate, “They’re not going to take away Michael Jordan’s charters, never. They’re going to try their hardest.”

One of the most influential voices in NASCAR rallying behind 23XI does make a difference. And perhaps this will see NASCAR come to talking terms with the two teams. Even if NASCAR manages to dodge this challenge and take over the two charters at 23XI, it will be seen as their loss. Losing out on an iconic sporting personality like Michael Jordan isn’t something you can boast about after all. Now here’s another thing we need to consider.

There is really no other alternative to NASCAR. If people want to start their own series, it would easily take years to accomplish something like this, and still, stock car racing isn’t something that has enjoyed a ton of viewership as compared to other sports. So the teams need NASCAR as well. This could push 23XI and Front Row to accept the terms reluctantly in the future.