In an article by Kelly Crandall on RACER.COM, NASCAR filed a counterclaim Wednesday against 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing co-owner Curtis Polk, alleging violations of the Sherman Act and conspiracy.
“Beginning no later than June 2022, Counterclaim Defendants engaged in a conspiracy and agreement in unreasonable restraint of interstate trade and commerce, constituting a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act,” the claim states. “Curtis Polk knowingly and actively orchestrated and participated in this illegal conspiracy, while working as a member of the (Team Negotiating Committee) on behalf of the RTA and aiding 23XI’s and Front Row’s participation in the scheme, also continuing a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act.”
In claiming conspiracy, NASCAR says 23XI and Front Row tried to get others to pressure NASCAR to accept the terms they wanted. Those efforts were done through the media, interfering with NASCAR’s broadcast agreement negotiations, threatening to boycott events and engaging in a group boycott of a team owner council meeting.