CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WGHP) — One of the greatest athletes of all time and a racing legend have announced that their motorsports team, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports are suing NASCAR. 23XI Racing, owned by basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, both based in North Carolina, announced on Wednesday they are jointly filing an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France. They allege the company has used "anti-competitive practices to prevent fair competition in the sport." All the latest from NASCAR 23XI and FRM released the following joint statement on the lawsuit: “We share a passion for racing, the thrill of competition, and winning. Off the racetrack, we share a belief that change is necessary for the sport we love. Together, we brought this antitrust case so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport in ways that will benefit teams, drivers, sponsors, and, most importantly, fans.” 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports The two racing teams claim that NASCAR and France operate "without transparency, have stifled competition, and control the sport of stock car racing in ways that unfairly benefit them at the expense of team owners, drivers, sponsors, partners, and fans, through the following anti-competitive practices." The allegations made by 23XI and FRM include: Buying a majority of the premier racetracks that are exclusive to NASCAR races; Imposing exclusivity deals on NASCAR-sanctioned racetracks; Acquiring Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), the only notable stock car racing series competitor; Preventing teams from participating in any other stock car races, while also retaining ownership over Next Gen parts and cars; and Forcing teams to buy their parts from single-source suppliers chosen by NASCAR. 23XI and FRM claim that "No other major professional sport in North America is run by a single family that enriches themselves through these kinds of unchecked monopolistic practices" Both teams say they will be filing a primary injunction in the coming days which will allow for their drivers to continue racing in NASCAR during the litigation. Jordan commented on the lawsuit stating, "Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track. I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins." TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 01: 23Xi team co-owner Michael Jordan looks on during the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff YellaWood 500 on October 01, 2023, at Talladega SuperSpeedway in Talladega, AL. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Curtis Polk, a co-owner of 23XI, referred to NASCAR as a "dictatorship" in his comment on the lawsuit. One of the key issues cited by both racing teams are the NASCAR charters which were adopted in 2016 and recently updated in 2025. They claim NASCAR "continually stonewalled and refused to engage constructively" during two years of attempted negotiation. Polk commented on the charter stating that it was "forced on the teams with only hours' notice" and that it "is an attempt to further marginalize the teams' voices in the sport and consolidate control and the power in the hands of the France family for their sole benefit." Bob Jenkins, the FRM team owner, released the following statement: “I have been part of this racing community for 20 years and couldn’t be more proud of the Front Row Motorsports team and our success. But the time has come for change. We need a more competitive and fair system where teams, drivers, and sponsors can be rewarded for our collective investment by building long-term enterprise value, just like every other successful professional sports league.” Bob Jenkins, FRM team owner Several prominent NASCAR drivers currently compete for both racing teams. FILE - Bubba Wallace speaks during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Wallace acknowledged Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, it was difficult for him to find joy in best friend Ryan Blaney’s first NASCAR championship.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) Michael McDowell celebrates after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick are among the drivers for 23XI, and 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell is among FRM's drivers.