The antitrust trial between NASCAR and two of its Cup teams has entered its fifth day, and the tension keeps rising as more witnesses take the stand. Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, is expected to testify as the case moves forward. The lawsuit, filed in October 2024 by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, says NASCAR controls charters, tracks, and media rights in a way that blocks fair competition.
Both teams claim they were forced into a “take-it-or-leave-it” charter deal for the 2025-2031 period. As the trial continues, former Cup driver Rick Mast on the Kenneny Wallace Show, says the real story is what happens when the case ends. “This is a big deal, folks, this is a big deal,” he said.
What the Teams and NASCAR Told the Court
In testimony on Thursday, Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins told the court his team has taken more than $100 million in losses. He said he felt insulted by NASCAR’s charter offers. NASCAR executive Steve O’Donnell answered by saying the sport’s system is built to be stable and long-term, and that the charter plan is fair.
Mast has followed these updates closely but says much of the focus is day-to-day. “Everybody’s keeping us updated every day, but what I haven’t heard much about is what it looks like when the checkered flag drops he said.”
Mast also pointed to messages involving 23XI executive Curtis Polk and co-owner Denny Hamlin, along with comments made by NASCAR president Steve Phelps about Richard Childress. “They’ve taken some big hits, big, big hits,” Mast said. “Some of it’s funny, but mostly it’s sad.”
Rick Mast’s Four Possible Outcomes
Mast laid out four possible endings: a hung jury, a settlement before the jury gets the case, a NASCAR win, or a win for the race teams. He said the first two options now seem unlikely.
If NASCAR wins and the teams choose not to appeal, Mast believes the league would face major decisions. “I think NASCAR has a great opportunity to right the ship and maybe come out of this thing better off than they were. But it’s going to take some very, very tough decisions… and a big, big chunk of humble pie with a good marketing campaign.”
If NASCAR wins and the teams appeal, Mast said the sport could face years of uncertainty. “A year, two years, three years, our sport can’t withstand such a long period of appeals,” he said. “We’re just going to get beaten up too much.”
If the teams win, Mast said he has no doubt NASCAR would appeal right away. He called that outcome something the league sees as a major threat. “They feel as if they lose this thing, the judge then decides how our sport is going to be run. And who knows? None of us has any idea what the judge will do.”
He said that kind of ruling could bring large changes, even situations where NASCAR loses key control of the sport, which he described as “the inmates running the asylum.”
What Comes Next in the Trial
Mast said that any lengthy appeals process would affect the entire industry. “We have corporate partners, media partners, sponsors he said.” “None of these people want to be involved in something that’s going to last two years, constantly going through appeals.”
Retired driver Mark Martin also shared concern recently, saying he does not see a positive result for the sport in any direction. Mast said the only clear path is if NASCAR wins without an appeal, because that avoids years of lawsuits. “If the race teams win, who knows? Who knows?”
Jordan’s upcoming testimony is expected to add more details as the federal trial continues. For Mast, the main question is simple: what will the sport look like when the checkered flag finally falls?
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