Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, recently hosted North Carolina Tar Heels basketball players at the Airspeed facility, the state-of-the-art headquarters for the NASCAR team. Opened in May 2024, the facility has been widely praised by NASCAR figures for its advanced features and contribution to team operations. The visit showcased Jordan's connection to both basketball and racing, blending his iconic sports legacy with his NASCAR ownership role.
23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, who is worth $3.2 billion (as per Forbes), and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, was founded in late 2020. The team debuted in 2021 with Bubba Wallace piloting the #23 Toyota. Expanding in 2022, Tyler Reddick joined to drive the #45 Camry, succeeding veteran Kurt Busch, who retired due to health issues.
Ahead of the Jumpman Invitational, presented by Novant Health, North Carolina Tar Heels players Seth Trimble and Russel Hawkins visited 23XI Racing's 114,000-square-foot Airspeed Facility. During the visit, they explored the training regimen of NASCAR athletes, gaining insight into the physical and technical demands of the sport. 23XI Racing shared Carolina Basketball's post on X (formerly Twitter) and captioned it:
"Thanks for stopping by! Good luck in the @Jumpman23 invitational!"
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are engaged in an ongoing legal battle with NASCAR over the contentious charter agreement set to take effect in 2025. A recent update from the Associated Press also indicated that neither team would be able to secure a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing.
Both 23XI and FRM opposed signing the proposed deal, arguing it was unfair. Instead, they collaborated to file an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, challenging the organization’s terms and seeking more equitable conditions for charter acquisitions.
NASCAR Insider explains Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and FRM's latest response amid ongoing charter war
Besides not allowing them to expand, NASCAR recently filed a motion to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit brought against them by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. However, the teams, supported by renowned antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler, have firmly responded to NASCAR's attempt to dismiss the case, arguing against the organization’s claims.
Both Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing and Bob Jenkins-owned Front Row Motorsports claimed that NASCAR enforces monopolistic practices, restricting teams from establishing independent series or identities. They argued that NASCAR’s influence extends to its ownership stakes in prestigious racetracks, enabling the organization to control decisions about hosting non-NASCAR events.
Recently, Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass shared an update on X regarding the ongoing legal battle. He explained:
"23XI/FRM argue an elite stock-car series/product requires elite teams & NASCAR deprives them of fair chance to earn profit by prohibiting charter teams from doing similar series, controlling tracks (Cup tracks can't have similar races), cars (single-source suppliers) & payouts."
Furthermore, as both 23XI and FRM do not hold charters, they will compete as open entries in the 2025 Cup Series campaign. This implies that both teams will need to qualify for each race every week, unlike chartered teams with guaranteed starting spots. However, it remains to be seen whether fans will see them compete in the Clash at Bowman Gray.