CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The bitter fight between NASCAR and two of its teams that have filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock-car racing series spilled into public view Thursday.
It happened during an acrimonious hearing that included the disclosure of expletive-laden emails and text messages from 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan and other high-profile litigants.
In one exchange, Jordan — the retired NBA great who co-owns the three-car team with his business manager Curtis Polk and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin — used disparaging language about Joe Gibbs Racing and the 13 other teams that signed NASCAR’s new charter agreements last September.
“Teams are going to regret not joining us,” Jordan wrote in a text message to Polk.
That organization and Front Row Motorsports, which is owned by owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, were the only two that refused to sign extension agreements on charter agreements, the equivalent of franchise licenses in other sports leagues. Front Row and 23XI then sued NASCAR, accusing it of being a bully and monopoly in a brawl that has played out all year and prompted both teams to say they risk going out of business if the series sells their charters out from under them.