Motorsport legend Tony Stewart has taken a side in the ongoing legal battle between NASCAR and 23XI Racing, co-owned by driver Denny Hamlin and NBA icon Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports.
Stewart made the decision earlier in the year to close down Stewart-Haas Racing's NASCAR endeavors, along with his partner Gene Haas. Despite leaving the world of NASCAR from a team point of view, Stewart still remains as an important voice in the sport.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports announced that they had launched a lawsuit against NASCAR and its chairman Jim France in October, accusing the sport of using monopolistic practices. The teams shared at the time, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:
"We share a passion for racing, the thrill of competition, and winning. Off the racetrack, we share a belief that change is necessary for the sport we love. 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."
Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, also commented at the time:
"It's actually pretty simple in my opinion. When I look around, I see that the best and most competitive sports in the world understand that when teams thrive, fans benefit, and that everyone who invests in making the sport a success should share fairly in that success. With the right changes, we can certainly make that a reality in racing."
The legal process is still ongoing.
Now, Stewart has given his verdict on the charter agreements which he brands "a joke". During an appearance on Cars and Culture with Jason Stein (below), Stewart explained:
"The charter agreements are a joke.
"And if people aren't smart enough to read between the lines – when someone like Rick Hendrick says, 'I just got tired of arguing with them,' do you think Rick Hendrick runs his business and negotiations and just says, 'I'm going to just sign this agreement because I'm tired of arguing with you.' Rick Hendrick's never done that a day in his life.
"So, if people aren't smart enough to read between the lines and figuring out what that means, then you're all missing the whole big picture all by itself. So, it's just an area I don't want to be a part of anymore. I'm a purist, I'm an old-school guy when it comes to racing."
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