Basketball legend Michael Jordan is pressuring NASCAR towards potential embarrassment through his driver Tyler Reddick.
Reddick’s last-gasp, final lap triumph at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 27 secured a spot for Jordan’s 23XI Racing team in the prestigious NASCAR Cup Series Championship race on November 10 at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona. It means Reddick is one win away from delivering a championship to Jordan in an entirely different sport.
The controversy stems from the fact that 23XI Racing is involved in a lawsuit against NASCAR and CEO Jim France – claiming monopolistic control leading to anti-competitive behaviors. Should Reddick clinch the championship, it would put NASCAR in an awkward position of handing Jordan and his team the trophy while in the middle of legal disputes.
Co-owner Denny Hamlin expressed his enthusiasm at this potential outcome, while sharing the hope he himself could be the driver to win the championship with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“A problem I’d love to have is … have [NASCAR President] Steve Phelps hand me that championship trophy in Phoenix,” Hamlin shared with reporters recently, adding that Phelps himself was open to the idea.
“That would be awesome, right?” he said. “We’ve spoke personally about that, and he said he’d be glad to do it.”
The heart of Jordan’s clash with NASCAR is centered on antitrust issues, a battle he’s waging alongside another racing team, Front Row Motorsports. Together, they boast 22 wins across various motorsports disciplines.
Their lawsuit accuses NASCAR of engaging in anticompetitive practices that stifle fair competition within the sport. “Together, we brought this antitrust case so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport in ways that will benefit teams, drivers, sponsors, and, most importantly, fans,” said the two teams in a joint statement.
The suit highlights several grievances, including restrictions that prevent racing teams from competing outside of NASCAR events and the requirement to purchase parts exclusively from NASCAR-approved suppliers.
In a stark contrast, the lawsuit points out that some teams, like Front Row Motorsports, have struggled to turn a profit despite years in the industry, while NASCAR has inked lucrative deals with major US corporations such as Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox.
Reddick has emerged as one of the top picks to clinch the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. He’s one of two drivers locked into the final four race alongside Joey Logano. Meanwhile, Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Ryan Blaney are all fighting for the two remaining spots ahead of this weekend’s race at Martinsville.
If Reddick secures the championship, it would mark Jordan’s inaugural NASCAR triumph, adding to his legendary status achieved through his NBA career, where he’s widely regarded as the greatest of all time in basketball and sports at large. This would also mark the pinnacle of Reddick’s rapidly rising career.
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