CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As the assembled parties involved in an antitrust lawsuit stood on the steps of a federal courthouse, they faced one major question — what pushed this settlement over the finish line and helped end what had been a 14-month legal battle?
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Compromise certainly played a role in 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR agreeing to a deal that they said would benefit the sport. However, NBA legend/23XI Racing team owner Michael Jordan highlighted another factor.
"I think under calmer circumstances, we actually voiced what our interests may have been, you know, collectively," Jordan said to the assembled media members. "And at the end of the day, we reached some type of compromise and to me, that's in every negotiation, in every agreement.
"And I'm very happy to be standing on these steps to move forward as opposed to moving separately."
The two sides have stood on the steps and addressed the settlement. The Jim France audio is probably too quiet. He’s very soft spoken. pic.twitter.com/GZd4XI4Pxk
— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) December 11, 2025
France echoed this sentiment while speaking to media members. He said that it was time that they got back to focusing on what they love, racing, which they had not done in far too long.
Jordan highlighted his goal of moving forward together during the first week of this nine-day trial. He took to the witness stand and acknowledged that he appreciated the France family and everything they built.
This time on the stand also featured Jordan explaining that he believes the sport can grow and that he fully believed in the charter system. He had some issues with other aspects of the sport, but he did not have the goal of tearing it apart. He spoke multiple times on the witness stand about a partnership that would benefit both sides, even if the TV revenue dipped.
Obviously, testifying about building the sport together and then finding a way to avoid extending a legal battle is not a small task. Yet, they pulled it off on Thursday morning after more than a year, a timeline that included contentious hearings and unflattering messages revealed in discovery.
These parties just had to find some common ground and focus on a resolution instead of swaying the jury's opinion. And in the end, both sides said they felt like "it was worth it" to get to this point and finally work together.
"I don't think Jim (France, NASCAR CEO/Chairman) is any opposite of me," Jordan said. "The fans have always been the best solution to this whole process and the whole sport itself. I've said this since day one — the only way this sport is going to grow is we have to find some synergy between the two entities, and I think we've gotten to that point.
"Unfortunately, it took 16 months to get here, but I think level heads just got us to this point where we can actually work together and build this sport. I'm very proud about that, and I think Jim feels the same way."
