NASCAR slammed Michael Jordan in its late Monday response to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport’s attempt to secure an injunction to restore charter status.

The teams are suing NASCAR over its new charter agreement, launching an antitrust lawsuit in December, which has left a dark cloud hanging over the sport. 

The teams believe the charter system, which effectively creates a franchise model by guaranteeing teams’ entries in the Cup Series and increases prize money compared to open teams, is anti-competitive and gives an unfair advantage to certain teams.

The teams launched the lawsuit against NASCAR in October, and they successfully received an injunction two months later to keep their charter status until the dispute heads to the courtroom in December this year. 

However, that decision was overturned in June, leaving 23XI — which is owned by NBA icon Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin — and FRM to operate as open teams.

The verdict has dramatically reduced the financial gains on offer for the teams, as well as forcing them to qualify for races. 

As a result, they joined forces once again last month to lodge a fresh bid for an injunction, claiming that: “[NASCAR] has signaled its intention to immediately move to sell or issue Plaintiffs’ charters to other entities —  putting plaintiffs in irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business.”

NASCAR issued its response to 23XI and FRM’s bid for a preliminary injunction Monday, arguing that neither team has faced irreparable harm due to operating as open teams because their drivers have not left and there is no risk of them not qualifying for races.

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The 34-page response to 23XI and FRM’s claims also argued that NASCAR cannot be forced into a business relationship with parties it does not want to, as well as stating that it would be damaging if NASCAR was prevented from selling the teams’ charters to “many eager potential entrants,” due to the time new teams would need to prepare for the 2026 season. 

NASCAR’s response also directly called out Jordan, claiming that the six-time NBA champion “wants to use the litigation to grant him a permanent Charter that no other Team has.”

23XI and FRM have yet to respond to NASCAR’s claims. The preliminary injunction hearing will take place on Aug. 28.