“We’d never get him back”: 23XI’s lawyer underlines disturbing situation about Tyler Reddick’s future amid potential charter fallout
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports' lawyer Jeffrey Kessler pointed out Tyler Reddick's future scare if a preliminary injunction isn't granted in the claimant's favor. The #45 Toyota driver is experiencing his most dominant season, with the regular season championship already etched to his name and a shot at his first Cup Series title. Thus, the driver is a lucrative option in the market and could prove detrimental for 23XI if he exits the team.
All 15 Cup Series team owners were given the charter agreement and a very short time to stamp their approval. Moreover, those failing to share the signed contract by the deadline (Sept. 6 midnight) were at risk of losing their existing charters, pressurizing the teams to decide in the nick of time.
As a result, all but two teams—23XI and FRM—refrained from signing the paper and chose to challenge NASCAR for their alleged malpractices instead. Nearly a month later, on October 2, the fallout teams sued the organization and its CEO, Jim France. The teams also requested a temporary grant of charters for the 2025 season until the proceeding concludes to prevent racing as an open team and losing out on the benefits reaped by the charter holders.
However, NASCAR disapproved 23XI and FRM's injunction request and argued about the same in the federal courtroom on Monday (Nov. 4).
Kessler scrutinized NASCAR's counsel, Chris Yates, on several grounds and said that 23XI could lose Tyler Reddick forever if the court didn't rule in favor of the teams. Reddick is Michael Jordan's lone driver in the title fight and could claim his maiden Cup Series title at Phoenix.
"We have a potential champion (Tyler Reddick) who would be free to leave and we’d never get him back. This could put these teams out of business. You can’t go to a stock car team and ask them to become a Formula 1 team,” Kessler said via Washington Post.
District Judge Frank D. Whitney conveyed that the decision from the latest argument will be communicated by Friday (Nov. 8), the beginning of the final 2024 Cup Series weekend.
"I have put all my cards on the table": Tyler Reddick's boss comments on their recent hearing at the Charlotte court
NBA legend Michael Jordan and restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins were at the Charlotte court. After nearly two hours of argument, the duo and their legal team exited the courtroom.
The sole purpose of the current hearing was to discuss whether to let 23XI and FRM race as chartered teams in 2025. If the teams fail to get the chartered teams tag for the next season, it could potentially demotivate big-pocketed sponsors who want the teams to participate in every points-paying race, which only a charter can guarantee.
The cascading effect of not granting a preliminary injunction could also lead to drivers like Tyler Reddick's exit. He has become a lucrative driver for rival teams, courtesy of his three wins, 12 top-5s, and 20 top-10s. The #45 Toyota driver bested the Homestead-Miami race to inch closer to his career-first Cup Series title, further soaring his market value.
Michael Jordan made his first comments after exiting the courtroom. The billionaire entrepreneur pressed that he has been in 'situations of disparity" and that their counsel did a phenomenal job countering NASCAR's arguments. He said (via Jeff Gluck).
"No, I've been in situations of disparity. I think the race team is going to focus on what they have to do this weekend, which I expect them to. I think Jeffrey did an unbelievable job today and I have put all my cards on the table. I think we did a good job at that. I'm looking forward to winning the championship this weekend," Tyler Reddick's boss said.
According to Tyler Reddick's contract, he will race for 23XI until the end of the 2025 season. However, things might change following the court's decision on Friday.