23XI Racing refuses to renew charter agreement: tensions with NASCAR escalate

The 23XI Racing team, co-owned by Curtis Polk, continues to engage in a fierce dispute with NASCAR. Supported by co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, Polk likened the conflict to a 'David and Goliath' battle, emphasizing that 23XI is far from signing the proposed extension of the charter agreement. Ahead of the NASCAR Playoffs kickoff at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Polk stated that 23XI would attempt to negotiate acceptable terms. On Friday, 13 of the 15 charter teams had signed the agreement to prevent the revocation of their charter rights. An anonymous team owner remarked, 'It is what it is. We move on.' Polk criticized that other teams might have been forced to sign under significant pressure, while 23XI considers the terms 'particularly harmful to our interests and intellectual property rights.' 'These predatory practices will no longer be accepted in 2024,' Polk added. In addition to 23XI, Bob Jenkins of Front Row Motorsports also refused to sign the contract due to similar concerns from his team. The short deadline for contract review made it impossible for Front Row to sign in time. Jenkins respected other teams that felt compelled to sign but did not blame them. For years, the teams have sought better contract terms. While NASCAR was willing to share more revenue from media rights, it rejected other key demands. Polk criticized that the offer curtailed essential rights and provided no real negotiation opportunity. It remains unclear how things will proceed for 23XI and Front Row after the deadline has passed. NASCAR has yet to make a decision and has not commented on the matter. Polk indicated that 23XI is considering legal action if necessary and will continue to try to protect its rights. It is possible that 23XI will enter the next season without guaranteed starting spots and revenues. 'We have the resources to race if we want to,' Polk said. Not all team owners were dissatisfied with the new agreement. Some saw positive aspects and considered it a better contractual framework than before. A long-time team owner praised the efforts of new teams but stated that the charter system has significantly improved compared to previous conditions.