On Day 8 of the trial, France explained his reasoning for resisting permanent charters to teams as the plaintiffs wrapped up their case.

Former NASCAR driver and reporter Kenny Wallace recently offered a pointed assessment of the forces that led to NASCAR’s antitrust settlement with 23X and FRM, suggesting that NASCAR chairman Jim Fran

The most powerful figure in stock car racing has stepped out of the shadows and into a Charlotte courtroom, where the future of NASCAR’s business model is being dissected in front of a jury. As Brian France takes the stand in an antitrust fight brought by teams aligned with Michael Jordan,

Finishing his testimony under cross-examination, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said he wasn’t comfortable agreeing to permanent charters because he didn’t know what the future of the sport would look like.

NASCAR, founded and privately owned by the Florida-based France family, never considered making the charters permanent. Instead, after two-plus years of bitter negotiations, NASCAR in September 2024 presented a “take-it-or leave-it” final offer that gave teams until end of that day to sign the 112-page document.

Michael Jordan and Jim France stood opposed for over a year. On Thursday, they were united, “moving forward instead of moving separately.”

Permanent franchises ("evergreen charters") were at the heart of the disagreement between NASCAR and the plaintiffs, including Michael Jordan.

NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell took the stand early Thursday morning in a North Carolina federal courtroom and admitted CEO Jim France was not open to a new business model.

NASCAR Chairman Jim France remained steadfast in his refusal to change NASCAR's Charter Agreement, and team owner Richard Childress testied in the NASCAR Trial on Dec. 9.