It’s a big week for Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing. Not only will the outcome of the preliminary injunction be revealed on Friday but Tyler Reddick will be competing for the Cup Series championship at Pheonix Raceway on Sunday evening. Known for his winning mentality, the NBA Hall of Famer doesn’t take too kindly to losing, and that’s an expectation he will have from reputed anti-trust attorney Jeffrey Kessler and his No. 45 Toyota driver.

With 23XI and Front Row Motorsports suing NASCAR for anti-trust violations, the outcome of the ongoing lawsuit could change the sport’s landscape forever. Will the so-called ‘rebellion’ manage to strong-arm the sanctioning body for more equitable terms? Time will tell.

Michael Jordan shares his views outside the federal courthouse

23XI Racing co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin were in attendance at the courtroom along with Front Row Motorsports’ Bob Jenkins in what was the first in-person showdown with NASCAR. The hearing took place on Monday over the preliminary injunction request, with Jeffrey Kessler making an argument for the two teams to retain their charters during the ongoing lawsuit saga. Representing the France family and NASCAR was Chris Yates, who made a case in front of Judge Frank Whitney that the sanctioning body no longer wanted to get into a charter agreement with the plaintiffs.

Despite the ongoing lawsuit drama, Michael Jordan doesn’t think the 23XI Racing team will be distracted from giving it their best effort ahead at the championship race in Phoenix. He said, “No, I’ve been in situations of disparity. I think the race team is going to focus on what they have to do this weekend, which I expect them to do. I think Jeffrey did an unbelievable job today, and I think I put all my cards on the table. I think we did a good job of that. I’m looking forward to winning a championship this weekend.”

The stakes are higher than ever, both on and off the track. The success or failure of the preliminary injunction request could have a massive impact on both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for the 2025 season. If the ruling doesn’t go in their favor, Tyler Reddick could move on as a free agent if the team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin doesn’t have a charter available for him. The 28-year-old could potentially win the championship at Phoenix Raceway, and 23XI Racing will be eager to keep hold of him in 2025 and beyond.

Sharing his views on the situation, attorney Jeffrey Kessler said, “We have a potential champion who would be free to leave and we’d never get him back. This could put these teams out of business. You can’t go to a stock car team and ask them to become a Formula 1 team.” If 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are forced to compete in the ‘open’ category, they won’t receive the same amount of revenue in comparison to chartered teams, which could result in a loss of sponsorship and drivers. It seems like Michael Jordan is playing a risky game, one that he has no option but to win given what’s at stake.

Jeffrey Kessler is optimistic about their chances

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It almost feels like a David vs Goliath battle, doesn’t it? While Michael Jordan has rarely been an underdog, in this instance, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport’s anti-trust lawsuit seems like a ‘rebellion’, which is going against a behemoth called NASCAR. The sanctioning body is already preparing for a 32-charter season, with eight open teams instead of the usual four. However, Jeffrey Kessler’s clients are hoping to be able to retain their existing charters until the ongoing court case finally comes to an end.

Kessler, who is representing Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Bob Jenkins expressed optimism after the first hearing took place on Monday. He said, “We will eventually prevail in this case. This is the first step, but I’ve litigated a very long time. I don’t make predictions about the outcomes of cases since I’ve been surprised in the past. But I felt very good, which is all I can do. We made our case that we’re right on the facts, we’re right on the law and hopefully the judge will agree.”

Kessler is hopeful that the preliminary injunction will go in their favor, but if it doesn’t, the anti-trust attorney wants the court to allow 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to compete in the ‘open’ category while being able to drag NASCAR to court. He said, “We are seeking relief to go forward next season” and the modification in the contract is temporary until a resolution is found. Hopeful that the situation won’t be dragged out for years, Michael Jordan’s lawyer said, “It shouldn’t take 14 years to reach trial”, highlighting that his clients are eager to find a quick resolution to the ongoing saga.