CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The federal antitrust trial against NASCAR began Monday with star Michael Jordan in attendance as a nine-person jury was seated to hear allegations that the stock car series is a bully monopolist that gives its teams no choice but to abide by rules and funding they don't agree with.
The former NBA Hall of Famer is a co-owner of 23XI Racing at the top level of the Cup Series. 23XI and Front Row Motorsports sued the series last year rather than sign agreements to renew the new charters, which are franchise-type designations that serve as the basis for a revenue stream between NASCAR and the teams.
Six men and three women attended the trial, expected to last two weeks, before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who asked for opening statements later Monday.
Jordan's presence in the courtroom played a role: Those dismissed from the jury included a man who said he couldn't be impartial because “I like Mike” and another who said he had Michael Jordan posters on his walls when he was growing up. The third dismissed juror pointed at Jordan and winked at him as he left the courtroom, while the juror said they were North Carolina fans but noted that the football team at Jordan's alma mater “isn't doing too well right now,” to which the retired star shook his head and laughed.
The case continued with hearings and arguments for more than a year, despite calls from other NASCAR teams to resolve the situation. Bell even helped lead a failed two-day summit in October.
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