Senior NASCAR writer slams “selfish, classless and thoughtless” Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s decision to sue Jim France

ESPN's senior NASCAR writer, Ryan McGee lambasted Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin's decision to file a lawsuit against the Chairman & owner Jim France. While McGee didn't say anything about whether 23XI Racing should've filed the antitrust lawsuit, he called out the co-owners for their timing of the claim, and slammed them, saying, "Wait a damn week."

After two years of negotiating the charter deals, NASCAR shared the proposal and asked teams to sign it by midnight on September 6. Of all the 15 Cup Series teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports declined to sign the proposal as they weren't given the opportunity to bargain. Since then, rumors about NASCAR being sued by those teams attracted attention.

Moving forward, on October 2, 23XI and FRM issued a joint statement of pursuing an antitrust case against the France Family. However, a day before filing the case, Michael Jordan's co-owned team took over helping Hurricane Helene victims and the drop-off points for donations, among other helpful things.

The sudden shift from helping the people to filing a lawsuit against NASCAR didn't please ESPN's senior writer and he slammed Michael Jordan and Hamlin for their "selfish" actions.

"The timing of their move, from the tipping off of the lawsuit on Tuesday and the media teleconference on Wednesday -- the very same Wednesday that has been described to you above -- there is no debate to be had about that. It was selfish, classless, and thoughtless. Wait a damn week," McGee wrote.

Amid NASCAR's legal tussle, they have frozen 23XI's charter purchase from Stewart-Haas Racing.

Two-time Daytona 500 winning crew chief slams Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing for filing a lawsuit against NASCAR

Larry McReynolds castigated Jordan for the antitrust lawsuit, saying that 23XI Racing is new to NASCAR. McReynolds is a two-time Daytona 500-winning crew chief and works as an analyst for Fox.

The teams asked for increased revenue from the purse, a cut from NASCAR's business deals that involve any team or its member, a say in the governing matters, and the charters to be permanent. However, NASCAR denied and reportedly threatened the teams that they'd lose their current charter if they failed to agree by the deadline.

The NASCAR veteran wasn't happy with Michael Jordan's team's decision despite several demands that were left unaddressed. He pointed out that people like Richard Childress, Jack Roush, Rick Hendrick, and Joe Gibbs, who have been in the sport for way more than the other teams, have signed the document.

McReynolds elaborated on his take and wrote (via Brett Winningham on X)

"We've got an organization that's been here not even four years that all of a sudden is saying 'we gotta change the way NASCAR's run'. I'm all about change. Change is what makes you better. But you know what? When I see Richard Childress, Jake Roush, Rick Hendrick, and Joe Gibbs that's been here longer than some of these guys have been pooping yellow ... and they signed off and said this is good ... we're okay," he wrote.

"There's things we don't like about it but we're going to do what's best for the sport and best for our business. And they signed off on it and these people that have been A. either not competitive or only been here for four and a half years have been saying the way we've done business for 76 and a half years is wrong," the Fox analyst added.

It will be interesting to see how NASCAR's dynamics will change after the Michael Jordan lawsuit's completion.