Basketball legend Michael Jordan and his team 23XI Racing have filed a complaint against auto racing organizer NASCAR and its president Jim France for “anti-competitive practices” and “monopolistic control” of their sport, the plaintiffs announce in a communicated Wednesday.
“Together, we are bringing this antitrust case to make motor racing a more competitive and fairer sport, for the benefit of teams, drivers, sponsors and, most importantly, fans,” write 23XI Racing and another team, Front Row Motorsports, regarding their joint complaint.
“Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, this desire to win lives in the entire 23XI team every week on the circuits […] but the way NASCAR is governed today is unfair,” writes Michael Jordan, quoted in the press release.
The two teams criticize NASCAR and its managers in particular for owning the NASCAR-branded circuits, for having bought a competing auto racing organization and for preventing the teams from participating in other competitions.
Unlike most North American professional leagues, owned and organized by all participating teams, NASCAR belongs to the France family, creator of the competition in 1948.
Michael Jordan bought the team which became 23XI Racing in September 2020.