Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing charter in jeopardy after court ruling
June 6 - A United States appeals court on Thursday vacated a preliminary injunction that allowed Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing and another NASCAR team to be treated as chartered teams, putting the teams' futures in NASCAR in question.
23XI Racing -- whose owners include Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin -- and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign a take-it-or-leave-it charter agreement NASCAR presented in September, while the other 13 organizations in the Cup Series proceeded to sign.
The two holdouts filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR the following month. In December, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell granted the teams' request for a preliminary injunction to be recognized as chartered teams while their lawsuit was active.
NASCAR slammed that decision and brought an appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. On Thursday, a three-judge panel unanimously ruled in NASCAR's favor and vacated the preliminary injunction.
"In short, because we have found no support for the proposition that a business entity or person violates the antitrust laws by requiring a prospective participant to give a release for past conduct as a condition for doing business, we cannot conclude that the plaintiffs made a clear showing that they were likely to succeed on the merits of that theory," the decision read in part. "And without satisfaction of the likelihood-of-success element, the plaintiffs were not entitled to a preliminary injunction. ... We therefore conclude that the district court abused its discretion in entering the preliminary injunction that it did."
23XI Racing and Front Row are still allowed to compete in the Cup Series, but having charter status guarantees them automatic spots in races and they would earn more money with a charter than as "open" teams. An open team must qualify their way into each race.
They can also file for a petition for rehearing.
--Field Level Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Blog
10 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
Walmart is selling a $458 Milwaukee power tool kit for just $180, and shoppers say it ‘has more than enough power'
Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you need a drill or an impact driver, Milwaukee is the place to look. In fact, the power tool brand has both available for over 60% off as part of a limited-time flash deal at Walmart right now. The Milwaukee M12 Combo Tool Kit with Drill and Impact Driver is on sale for $180, which is 61% off the original $458 price tag. This bestselling set of power tools boasts over 60 five-star ratings and shoppers say it's the 'perfect size' and just an all-around 'great combo set.' Milwaukee M12 Combo Tool Kit with Drill and Impact Driver, $180 (was $458) at Walmart Hammering, unscrewing, and so much more is possible with this handy tool kit. The 6-inch drill driver and the 5-inch hex impact driver are light enough to use with ease, and fit into the tight spaces that other bulky power tools might be too big for. The hex driver even has built-in LED lighting that'll illuminate your work area, no matter what time it is. But perhaps the best part of this set is everything that comes with it. You'll score the two power tools as well as two battery packs and a charger. And to top it all off, you'll also receive an M12 tool bag that'll keep everything together — with free shipping to boot. 'Exactly as advertised,' one shopper said. 'The tools are small and compact but very powerful. Definitely worth the price. I would purchase it again without hesitation. I'm completely satisfied with my Milwaukee tools.' 'Powerful and great value,' another reviewer began. 'More than enough power for most DIY jobs. Milwaukee products are always top notch. Great value for the product offered.' The Milwaukee M12 Combo Tool Kit with Drill and Impact Driver is labeled as a 'Flash Deal' at Walmart, meaning it won't be on sale for long. Enjoy the 61% markdown ASAP before this dazzling discount drives away. About the Author Daniel Donabedian View Profile
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Teen boy shoots himself dead after 'sextortion' scam that's every parent's worst nightmare
A Kentucky teen took his own life after being targeted in a cruel 'sextortion' scam that used AI-generated nude images to try to blackmail him. Elijah Heacock, 16, of Glasgow, was getting ready for bed on February 27 when he received a chilling text demanding $3,000 to keep an AI-generated nude photo of him from being shared with friends and family, KFDA News reported. Only hours later, his family found him inside their home's laundry room gravely injured by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Despite efforts to save him, Elijah died in the hospital the next day. It wasn't until the teen was in the hospital that his parents discovered the AI-generated photos on his phone, uncovering the disturbing reality behind his suicide. The digital evidence revealed that he had fallen victim to a sextortion scam - where criminals target young people online, threatening to release explicit images unless they pay up or comply with potentially harmful demands. Now, more than three months after the tragedy, Elijah's family is channeling their grief into action - fighting to make it a federal crime to post both real and generated sexually-oriented images of someone online without their consent. 'The people that are after our children are well organized,' Elijah's father, John Burnett, told CBS News. 'They are well financed, and they are relentless.' 'They don't need the photos to be real, they can generate whatever they want, and then they use it to blackmail the child,' he added. 'It's kind of like a bullet in a war. It's not going to win the war. No war is ever won by one bullet. You got to win battles. You got to win fights. And we're in it.' On the night of February 27, Elijah's mother, Shannon, urged him to get to bed early, reminding him of the district basketball playoff game the next day in their hometown, the Wall Street Journal reported. Elijah - known to his parents as 'their tornado' for his bold spirit and relentless ambition - seemed excited for the events planned the next day, WLKY reported. Just before 10:30pm, the teen texted his mother about grabbing coffee before the game the next morning, the WSJ reported. An hour after Shannon went to sleep, her daughter jolted her awake with gut-wrenching news no mother ever wants to hear. Elijah was found in the laundry room, bloodied, after shooting himself. The 16-year-old 'wasn't depressed, he wasn't sad, he wasn't angry,' Burnett told CBS News about his son. Now, more than three months after the tragedy, Elijah's family is channeling their grief into action - fighting to make it a federal crime to post both real and generated sexually-oriented images of someone online without their consent The grim truth began to unravel as Elijah's parents searched his phone, ultimately discovering a series of AI-generated nude photographs. 'They started asking Eli for money,' Shannon told KFDA of the blackmailer. 'This person was asking for $3,000.' 'Three-thousand dollars from a child,' she added. 'And now, we're looking at $30,000 to bury our son and medical bills.' After being alerted to the disturbing images, the Barren County Sheriff's Office arrived at the hospital, where a deputy reviewed its contents firsthand. In the final hour before Elijah took his own life, he exchanged more than 150 text messages with the person threatening him, the WSJ reported. If he didn't send the $3,000, the person warned, a fake nude image of him would be sent to friends and family. It quickly became clear the case needed to be escalated to the FBI. Elijah's case wasn't a rare occurrence, but rather part of a growing trend in the age of advanced technology and chatbots. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), more than 500,000 sextortion cases targeting minors were reported last year alone. At least 20 young individuals have taken their own lives since 2021 after falling victim to sextortion scams, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 'You don't actually need any technical skills at this point to create this kind of illegal and harmful material,' Dr. Rebecca Portnoff, head of data science at a non-profit focused on preventing online child exploitation, told CBS News. In January 2024, 15-year-old David Gonzalez Jr. died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after becoming the target of the sex scam, the WSJ reported. The Utah teenager was contacted by what appeared to be a teenage girl on the social media app Wizz, and the conversation quickly moved across Instagram, Snapchat and iMessage - continuing throughout the day. Eventually, one of the perpetrators told the boy they knew where he lived and threatened to release screenshots from a live video call he had participated in with the supposed girl. Junior didn't have the $200 they demanded - and just hours later, his parents were shattered by the sound of a gunshot from upstairs. A bill introduced in the Kentucky Senate this year aims to criminalize sexual extortion, set penalties for offenders, and implement measures to tackle the growing problem. 'This is a problem that our young people and others are facing that is devastating,' said Steve Riley, State Representative for Barren County. 'Can you imagine the pain that a parent has to go through in this situation?' On March 7, Riley spoke about Elijah on the Kentucky House floor, sharing that he had spoken with Shannon following her son's death. The bill now awaits Governor Andy Beshear's signature to become law. 'We have to do everything as a body and as a state to deal with this situation,' Riley added. 'What kind of lowlife human being would use sexual extortion to devastate another person, both emotionally, mentally, and financially? That's what we're dealing with.' On a larger scale, the government is stepping up efforts to combat extortion, including the recently passed 'Take It Down' Act - championed by Melania Trump and signed into law by President Trump. Elijah's parents also fought for the change with hopes that the recently signed measure will make a difference. The 'Take It Down' Act not only makes sharing fake/real explicit images online without consent a federal charge, but it also requires social media companies to remove the images within 48 hours of the victim's request.
Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Rodgers' long, strange trip through free agency ends in Pittsburgh
NEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' ended his long-running free agency saga as the polarizing four-times NFL MVP launched a new chapter of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The team posted on social media a photo of Rodgers wearing a Steelers hat with a pen in his hand and a smile on his face two days after reports of the first broke. "Done deal," the photo caption said. The one-year contract is for $13.65 million, which includes $10 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $19.5 million, ESPN reported on Saturday, citing sources. The deal is pending a physical, the team said. Rodgers will hold a press conference on Tuesday after minicamp practice. Months of speculation gave way to frustrated impatience from fans seeking any clue to his future following Rodgers' acrimonious split from the New York Jets almost four months ago. The 41-year-old left the team after a turbulent two-year-tenure that began with a torn Achilles tendon and ended with a clumsily concealed behind-the-scenes spat with owner Woody Johnson. Analysts laid out a few possible destinations for the twice NFL passing touchdown leader but as teams recruited talent in free agency and at April's Draft, the odds Rodgers would play again appeared to dwindle with each passing day. NFL experts and insiders indicated last week that the Steelers were no closer to sealing the deal. "We've heard Art Rooney, the Steelers owner, say they expect that Rodgers will eventually sign. But here we are, June 4, nothing but silence," ESPN's Adam Schefter said. But Rodgers, once criticised for misleading fans and reporters about his COVID-19 vaccination status, again confounded expectations on Thursday, as news broke he would join the Steelers on a one-year deal. Rodgers produced a solid 3,897 passing yards and 28 touchdowns across 17 games last season, but some experts are skeptical. "It's a joke. What are you going to do? Bring him in just for a year? He should stay (at home) in California," four-times Super Bowl winner-turned-broadcaster Terry Bradshaw said on his "Morning Mayhem" radio show last week. Once the face of Green Bay during his 18 seasons with the Packers, Rodgers hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with the team in 2011 and will come face-to-face with them again - playing for the team they beat in the Super Bowl - in Week Eight. He will open the season against the Jets.
