NASCAR reacts against ‘manufactured evidence’ in Michael Jordan-led 23XI lawsuit

NASCAR responded to a second injunction filed by Cup Series teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in the desire to attain a temporary charter throughout the ongoing lawsuit between the teams and the sport's sanctioning body. Once more, the sport has rejected the teams' request in a recent statement.

In a matter brought to light by racing insider Bob Pockrass via X, NASCAR reached the deadline to file a response to 23XI and FRM's most recent preliminary injunction.

"NASCAR's deadline to file response to 23XI/Front Row most recent preliminary injunction motion was today and it was just filed," Pockrass wrote.

Even with a second try for an injunction to retain a charter for next season, NASCAR doubled down and said nothing has changed since the original injunction, believing that the two teams have failed to show how "irreparable harm" would be caused if the injunction isn't granted. Pockrass quoted NASCAR's statement via X, writing:

"Even with their manufactured evidence, Plaintiffs still fall far short of a clear showing of irreparable harm. Their new submissions underscore that any claimed harm remains speculative, self-inflicted, and redressable with monetary damages."

After failing to reach a charter agreement ahead of the 2025 Cup Series season, 23XI and Front Row filed a lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France, accusing the sport of monopolistic practices and for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. The teams attempted to retain a charter in order to guarantee their positions in the Cup Series field in 2025 by virtue of a preliminary injunction, but both have now been denied by NASCAR.

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23XI Racing added Riley Herbst to 2025 driver lineup amid lawsuit against NASCAR

23XI Racing, co-owned by retired NBA legend Michael Jordan and Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, has no plans of slowing down despite the ongoing legal battle with NASCAR. In fact, the team recently announced they'll be fielding a third full-time car in 2025 driven by Riley Herbst.

Herbst, a three-time Xfinity Series winner, will pilot the #35 23XI Racing Toyota in 2025 with Monster Energy as the primary sponsor. The team showed a promotional video of Herbst walking through the shop of 23XI Racing to break the news to their followers.

"Welcome to the family #forwardtogether," they wrote.

Herbst will be teammates alongside Bubba Wallace, who drives the #23 car, and Tyler Reddick, who wheels the #45 car. This past season, Reddick made it all the way to the Championship 4 race and finished fourth among the title drivers. He won three races and the regular season championship.

Wallace, meanwhile, failed to win a race for the second straight year and missed out on the playoffs. His last win came at Kansas Speedway in October 2022.