Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin Blast NASCAR for Turning Legal Dispute into a ‘Personal’ Matter

The ongoing legal battle between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports (FRM), and NASCAR has taken an unexpected turn, as both Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin have fiercely defended their business partner, Curtis Polk. The dispute, which began in October 2024, erupted after the two racing teams refused to sign the new charter agreement proposed by NASCAR, opting instead to pursue legal action against the sport and its CEO, Jim France. The teams have accused NASCAR of monopolizing stock car racing in violation of antitrust laws.

This legal conflict took a personal turn when NASCAR’s legal team, in a counterclaim filed on March 5, 2025, targeted Curtis Polk, a key figure behind 23XI Racing. NASCAR’s statement described Polk and the two teams as “Counterclaim Defendants” who allegedly engaged in anticompetitive behavior to disrupt the sport’s charter system. NASCAR’s legal counsel, Christopher Yates, even went as far as criticizing Polk’s understanding of motorsport, suggesting his ideas may work in leagues like the NBA but are out of place in NASCAR.

“I don’t think Mr. Polk really understands the sport,” Yates said. “He came into it and his view is it should be much more like the NBA or other league sports. But it’s not. No motorsport is like that. He’s done a lot of things that might work in the NBA or might be OK in the NBA but just are not appropriate in NASCAR.”

This remark did not sit well with either Jordan or Hamlin. The 23XI Racing co-owner, Michael Jordan, took a strong stance in defense of his long-time business partner, Curtis Polk. In a statement issued through a spokeswoman, Jordan emphasized that the attack on Polk was personal. “Curtis and MJ stand united. His perspective is if you are coming after Curtis, you are coming after him. He doesn’t look at this as just business. It’s personal,” the statement read.

Denny Hamlin, who has partnered with Jordan in the formation and success of 23XI Racing, also weighed in. Hamlin, a seasoned NASCAR driver and team owner, took offense to NASCAR’s assessment of Polk’s involvement in the sport. “That’s like saying a chef doesn’t know how to cook. He’s built Michael Jordan’s empire for the last 30 years. The guy knows the business,” Hamlin said. “Curtis has just been fantastic for our team and certainly a pioneer, I believe, and a trailblazer for new ideas that our team uses every single time we hit the racetrack and how we do business.”

The tension between NASCAR and the two racing teams escalated after they refused to sign the new charter agreement, which sets the framework for how teams operate and secure funding within the sport. Both 23XI Racing and FRM argue that NASCAR’s monopoly over the stock car racing industry puts undue constraints on their ability to succeed and grow, prompting them to seek legal recourse through antitrust laws.

This conflict highlights the growing friction between NASCAR’s traditional leadership and new teams that are pushing for change and innovation within the sport. Curtis Polk, a former sports agent and key business strategist for Jordan, has been instrumental in modernizing the business side of 23XI Racing, leading to its growth and success in NASCAR’s competitive environment. His experience and ideas have brought a fresh perspective to the team, which now includes high-profile drivers such as Hamlin and the superstar presence of Jordan.

The strong defense of Polk by both Jordan and Hamlin has sent a clear message to NASCAR: the legal battle is not just about business, but also about respect and fairness. The question now is how NASCAR will respond to the personal nature of the attack and the mounting public support for Polk from two of the sport’s biggest figures.

As the legal dispute continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether this personal animosity will have lasting effects on the relationship between NASCAR and its teams, or if it will lead to meaningful changes in the way the sport operates. For now, the spotlight remains firmly on the clash between the sport’s established leadership and the newcomers pushing for reform.