Who is Jeffrey Kessler – NCAA’s $10 Billion Nightmare, Hired By Michael Jordan & Co in Fight Against NASCAR?

As team owners go up against NASCAR Executives in a bid to get what they deserve, Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing have brought in the perfect attorney to fight their case. Jeffrey Kessler is perhaps the most sought-after man in America whenever an anti-trust or labor dispute arises in sports.

After advocating for college athletes and winning the NCAA v. Alston case at the U.S. Supreme Court by a 9-0 vote, Kessler aims to deliver similar results for the team owners in their battle for charter ownership. With that said, let’s take a look at the decorated attorney’s career and how he’s leading the charge in the $10 billion House v. NCAA case.

In the eyes of the team owners, Jeffrey Kessler is the perfect man for the job

Nearly every NFL fan who witnessed the introduction of free agency knows of Jeffrey Kessler’s judicial prowess. After making history by winning the McNeil v. NFL trial, Kessler went on to make a name for himself as one of America’s most prominent sports lawyers. And soon enough, his portfolio spoke volumes of the same. From representing the National Basketball Player’s Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) to winning cases for Panasonic and the cities of San Diego and Oakland, Kessler sure has a wide range of experience.

Fortunately, this experience is precisely what Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and other team owners need as they go up against NASCAR to help reduce losses. But that’s not the only case Kessler is working on that could result in a historic ruling. As the NCAA and players go to war over the existence of free agency in college sports, Kessler made the shocking revelation that, with a $10 billion payout, the case could become the biggest anti-trust case in American history.

As things stand, the established attorney revealed to Puck News that this case would be the biggest win of his career if their side wins the trial reported to be held in January 2025. But speaking of major cases that Kessler is working on, the attorney was hired by the Race Team Alliance, a collective of NASCAR team owners, to help represent them against the officials in the charter agreements.

According to the New York Times, Jeffrey Kessler’s main purpose is to help the teams and NASCAR owners come to an agreement that suits both parties. There have been rumors of the top team owners branching off and creating their series. But if owners such as Hamlin and Jordan choose to remain in NASCAR, then the negotiations must go their way to make sense in the long term.

Fortunately, Kessler highlighted that team-owners would prefer to stick with NASCAR, and are prioritizing a suitable arrangement instead. If the teams feel that the agreement isn’t beneficial to them, Kessler believes “they won’t take an unacceptable deal.” Still, if Denny Hamlin and Co. do end up making their own series, Kessler is there to ensure NASCAR does not utilize foul play to block their access from race tracks. If they do so, Kessler states, “They open themselves up to antitrust violations.”

Although not much insider information regarding the ongoing negotiations is available, it’s safe to say Michael Jordan and fellow team owners have all bases covered.

23XI Racing’s Cup Series efforts are yet to pay off amidst charter negotiation woes

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NASCAR Found Guilty by Law After Offending Michael Jordan’s Team in Antitrust Lawsuit

Back when Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan joined hands to purchase a charter for 23XI Racing, NASCAR fans immediately knew the team would get up to speed in no time. Fast-forward to Tyler Reddick’s win at the GEICO 500 this year, and it’s safe to say that is certainly still the case. However, one key indicator of the team’s NASCAR success is yet to reveal itself.

According to reports, Hamlin and Jordan had paid a staggering $18 million a year to field both of the 23XI racing cars. Add to this the driver salary, crew member wages, and headquarters costs, and it’s safe to see why they have yet to make any major returns on their financial investment. That being said, Michael Jordan revealed the importance of changing that notion around soon.

He was quoted by the New York Times, “In all partnerships, if you grow the pie, that means your business is going to continue to grow. And to grow the pie, you’ve got to make sure everybody’s healthy within the partnership. If our ownership in NASCAR is losing money and NASCAR’s the only one making money, that’s not a good partnership.”

Only recently, Denny Hamlin highlighted the major loss teams incurred at the end of each season. Compared to NASCAR’s nine-figure profits, the teams could potentially lose millions. In 2022, JGR had spent nearly a million dollars on spare tire sets alone, highlighting how expensive the sport truly is. With teams demanding permanency, it will also be vital for NASCAR to cut them a bigger cheque to help grow the sport. If teams have higher equity, they will naturally want to invest more in the sport.

But after taking a look at Michael Jordan’s bluntness surrounding the current relationship between 23XI Racing and NASCAR, do you think the future of Hamlin’s beloved team may be in danger?