In NASCAR antitrust fight, Michael Jordan's manager goes from adviser to stock car series to target
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Long before the battle over the charter system led to the antitrust lawsuit now engulfing NASCAR, its executives found Michael Jordan and his small group of advisers a beneficial resource in discussing growth for the top racing series in the United States.
They held meetings with Curtis Polk, Jordan’s right-hand man, to go over best practices and other areas that could be improved.
That was when Jordan still owned the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Now he owns a NASCAR team, and 23XI Racing — along with Front Row Motorsports — is suing the stock car series over alleged antitrust violations.
Caught in the crosshairs is Polk, who was singled out in NASCAR’s countersuit as the mastermind for a near mutiny by the race teams over revenue sharing.
From adviser to enemyThe countersuit NASCAR filed earlier this month wrongly called Jordan's longtime business manager and partner a “sports agent” and repeatedly singled out Polk as the ringleader against the current charter agreements signed last fall by most Cup Series teams. NASCAR also claimed Polk threatened a boycott of the Daytona 500 qualifying races and persuaded teams to boycott a meeting with NASCAR.
The teams signed the charters just before last season's playoffs after a take-it-or-leave-it offer by NASCAR. Although the charter system remains flawed — teams want them made permanent like a franchise in other major sports — it does guarantee a spot in the field and other revenue incentives. Thirteen teams signed but 23XI and Front Row held out — in large part because of a clause in the charter that prohibits teams from suing NASCAR — and since both teams didn't like the terms, they wanted the right to sue over antitrust allegations.
And now we are here: Counterclaims, threats by NASCAR to disband the entire charter system, a December trial date and a full-throated attack against Polk.
“I don’t think Mr. Polk really understands the sport,” NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates told The Associated Press. “I think he came into it and his view is it should be much more like the NBA or other league sports. But it’s not. No motorsport is like that. He’s done a lot of things that might work in the NBA or might be OK in the NBA but just are not appropriate in NASCAR.”
Jordan, through a spokeswoman, wanted it known that he and Polk are in lockstep and everything Polk has done represents the NBA icon. Polk owns a piece of 23XI alongside Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
“Curtis and MJ stand united. His perspective is if you are coming after Curtis, you are coming after him,” said the spokeswoman. “He doesn’t look at this as just business. It’s personal.”
Hamlin also took exception to Yates' comments.
“That’s like saying a chef doesn’t know how to cook. He’s built Michael Jordan’s empire for the last 30 years. The guy knows the business," Hamlin said. “Curtis has just been fantastic for our team and certainly a pioneer, I believe, and a trailblazer for new ideas that our team uses every single time we hit the racetrack and how we do business."
Many team executives at Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the weekend declined to speak on the record about NASCAR's attack on Polk. Some say they believe NASCAR's threat that if 23XI is successful in court, the charters will be disbanded. Others say NASCAR just wants scared teams to reason with 23XI, but disbanding the charter system is an empty threat because they are existing seven-year contracts between NASCAR and 13 organizations representing 30 cars.
NASCAR Hall of Fame car owner Richard Childress did defend Polk, who was chosen as a negotiator by the Race Team Alliance in the charter extension talks.
“Curtis hadn't did anything that anyone else hadn't did,” Childress said. “He didn't do nothing that everybody else on the RTA did and that's all I will say. Curtis didn't do anything to anybody and that's the quote.”
Who is Polk?Although he did start as an agent, Polk has advised Jordan since 1989 and manages Jordan's financial and business affairs, family office and related companies.
Polk was part of the Hornets' ownership group, was the managing partner of Hornets Sports & Entertainment and an alternate governor on the NBA’s Board of Governors. Polk advised Jordan during the launch of Nike’s Jordan Brand in 1997 and was an executive producer of “The Last Dance,” the award-winning docuseries chronicling the Chicago Bulls and Jordan’s NBA rise.
Polk has also managed the financial affairs of numerous sports stars; in 1996, Polk negotiated four of the five highest contracts in NBA history at that time.
So, yes, NASCAR is correct in that his background is not in motorsports. That's apparently the biggest problem and a familiar one in NASCAR: A decade ago, co-founder Rob Kauffman of Fortress Investment Group bailed out Michael Waltrip Racing and pushed for the RTA and the initial charter system that debuted in 2016.
Kauffman, always considered an outsider to NASCAR, is no longer an active team owner.
Like Kauffman, NASCAR doesn't appear to view Polk as one of the good 'ol boys simply satisfied by the adrenaline rush of bumping and banging race cars 38 weekends per year. Like Kauffman, he wants to understand why the France family-owned series allegedly monopolizes the support.
Many team executives blanched when asked their opinion on Polk and the role he played in charter negotiations, clearly not interested in landing in NASCAR's crosshairs.
“Curtis is a smart guy. He's a really smart guy,” was all Joe Gibbs Racing President Dave Alpern, a member of the RTA negotiating committee, would say to AP.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
-
In NASCAR antitrust fight, Michael Jordan's manager goes from adviser to stock car series to target
Long before the battle over the charter system led to the antitrust lawsuit now engulfing NASCAR, its executives found Michael Jordan and his small group of advisers a beneficial resource in ...ABC News - 1d -
Bulls' championship banners out for season after pyrotechnic damage from Disturbed concert
Imagine someone explaining this to Michael Jordan.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
NASCAR qualifying results: Starting lineup set for Las Vegas race. Michael McDowell? Yep
The lineup is set for Sunday's Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Speedway. This will be the fifth race of NASCAR's 36-race Cup Series season.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Legge becomes 1st woman in Cup Series since '18
Katherine Legge, the first woman to drive a NASCAR Cup Series car in seven years, spun out twice and didn't finish her debut race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, calling the effort a "baptism by ...ESPN - Mar. 9 -
Michael Waltz, Trump’s National Security Adviser, Is Taking Fire From Both Sides
Mr. Waltz has worked hard to burnish his credentials among the president’s supporters, in the process dismaying his former associates while not convincing his new ones.The New York Times - 2d -
Manager in spotlight: Michael Wimmer
Having won just once in 11 Premiership outings, Motherwell were drifting the wrong way in the table, but suddenly the Fir Park side are back in the top six and looking to win three successive ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
What channel is the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Las Vegas on today? Time, TV schedule
The LiUNA! NASCAR Xfinity Series race takes place on Saturday at Las Vegas.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
NASCAR 2025 race schedule, results: Complete list of Cup Series race dates, winners, tracks, locations
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series will feature both an international and grassroots flairCBS Sports - 2d -
Jordan sidesteps Jack Smith amid demands to interview 'politically motivated' DOJ figures
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) demanded interviews from a series of Justice Department (DOJ) officials he accused of weaponizing the department, pushing to speak with several figures ...The Hill - 6h -
NASCAR Las Vegas predictions 2025: Expert picks for Cup Series race
Our NASCAR predictions are in for Sunday's Cup Series race at Las Vegas. Here's who our experts are picking to win the 2025 Pennzoil 400.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Flamin' Hot Cheeto shaped like Michael Jordan's 'Jumpman' logo to sell at auction
The Jordan-shaped snack closely follows the $87,840 sale of a Charizard-shaped CheetoYahoo Sports - 4d -
NASCAR Xfinity Series at Las Vegas: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Saturday's race
The NASCAR Xfinity Series season continues with The LiUNA! at Las Vegas. See Saturday's starting lineup here.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Sunday's race
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season continues with the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas on Sunday. See the starting lineup here.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Reporter's Notebook: "Animal spirits" and the stock market
When the market crashed earlier this week, a White House adviser said, "We're seeing a strong divergence between animal spirits of the stock market and what we're actually seeing unfold from ...CBS News - Mar. 11 -
Josh Berry triumphs at Las Vegas for first career NASCAR Cup Series win
Josh Berry, in his first season with legendary Wood Brothers Racing, scored his first NASCAR Cup Series win in Sunday's Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Michael Bisping: It would be a 'massive market opportunity lost' if Islam Makhachev doesn't fight Ilia Topuria
Michael Bisping thinks Ilia Topuria will get his wish to fight UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Although Makhachev doesn't like the idea of fighting another featherweight, Bisping thinks ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Disturbed Concert’s Pyrotechnics Damage Chicago Bulls’ Championship Banners
Banners from NBA team's Michael Jordan reign suffer "minor damage" during metal band's United Center concert, won't be on display for remainder of seasonYahoo Sports - 3d -
US strikes 'took out' multiple Houthi leaders: National security adviser Mike Waltz
The airstrikes that bombarded Yemen targeted multiple leaders of the Iranian-backed Houthis, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz told "This Week."ABC News - 1d -
Vikings, 49ers announce Jordan Mason trade
The trade that sends running back Jordan Mason from San Francisco to Minnesota became official on Tuesday.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Top Trump advisers get involved as the fight to win his presidential library site heats up
The search for President Donald Trump’s post-administration presidential library site is intensifying in South Florida, with Trump's son Eric and a top Trump administration adviser, Steve Witkoff, ...NBC News - Mar. 8 -
NASCAR at Las Vegas results: Josh Berry gets first Cup Series win in victory No. 101 for Wood Brothers Racing
Berry joins a select fraternity of drivers who have won for NASCAR's oldest race teamCBS Sports - 2d -
Tesla’s stock gets its lowest price target from a bull. It still implies 39% upside.
RBC Capital Markets cut Tesla’s expected price mark to $320 from $440 on lower projections for robotaxi and self-driving software.MarketWatch - 2h -
Michael Jordan-shaped Flamin' Hot Cheeto going for hundreds of dollars at auction
Eating this Jumpman Cheeto would be costlyCBS Sports - 5d -
Restoring classic cars in the classroom
McPherson College, about an hour north of Wichita, Kansas, is home to the nation's first, and only, four-year automotive restoration program. There, car-crazy students restoring classic vehicles ...CBS News - 2d -
Christopher Bell seeks four wins in a row: NASCAR's hottest driver has chance at rare accomplishment
Only eight NASCAR Cup Series drivers, and none since 2007, have ever won four races in a rowCBS Sports - Mar. 10 -
What channel is the NASCAR Las Vegas race on today? Time, TV schedule for Pennzoil 400
The Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race takes place on Sunday at Las Vegas.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Goodyear option tire returns to Cup Series for Phoenix spring race
NASCAR announced on Jan. 22 that the Goodyear option tire will return to the NASCAR Cup Series for the spring weekend at Phoenix Raceway. It will be the same process that was utilized for the ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 7 -
Applivery raises funds from Supercell for device and software management
Applivery, a tech platform for endpoint management and app distribution, has received a strategic investment from Supercell.VentureBeat - 6d -
NASCAR Saturday schedule at Phoenix Raceway
The Xfinity and Cup Series will be on track at the 1-mile oval.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 8 -
What channel is NASCAR Las Vegas qualifying on today? Time, TV schedule, streaming info
The NASCAR Cup Series season continues to Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the Pennzoil 400. How to watch qualifying, including time, TV schedule, streaming info.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
NASCAR takeaways: Josh Berry loves Las Vegas! He ends Christopher Bell's win streak
The NASCAR Cup Series has now completed five of its 26 regular-season races. This coming week, it returns to Florida at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
X users report a series of outages
Hours after a series of outages that left X unavailable to thousands of users, Elon Musk is claiming that the social media platform is being targeted in a “massive cyberattack."ABC News - Mar. 10 -
Josh Berry gets first career Cup Series win at Vegas
Josh Berry raced to the first Cup Series victory of his career, taking NASCAR's oldest team to victory lane Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.ESPN - 1d -
Arman Tsarukyan: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 'just a hype fight'
Arman Tsarukyan is not interested in Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) meets rising lightweight contender Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a five-round ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Roman Dolidze avenges loss to Marvin Vettori in main event from Las Vegas
Dolidze tied his series with Vettori at one apiece after earning the decision on SaturdayCBS Sports - 2d -
NASCAR Friday schedule at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Truck and Xfinity Series will be on track at the 1.5-mile oval.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
NASCAR Saturday schedule at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Cup Series will practice and qualifying ahead of the Xfinity race.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Las Vegas weekend schedule, TV info for NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck series
All three national series are racing during the first 1.5-mile race weekend of the season.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Trump economic adviser: 'First quarter is going to squeak into the positive category'
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Monday the “first quarter is going to squeak into the positive category,” even as anxieties around the economy rise nationwide. Stocks were ...The Hill - Mar. 10
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Dylan Strome and the Capitals surge past the Red Wings 4-1
Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist and the Washington Capitals beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Tuesday night. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael also scored for Washington, ...Yahoo Sports - 32m -
Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators to play NHL Global Series games in Stockholm in November
The games at newly renovated Avicii Arena are set to be the 47th and 48th games the league has held in Sweden.Yahoo Sports - 35m -
Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators to play NHL Global Series games in Stockholm in November
The games at newly renovated Avicii Arena are set to be the 47th and 48th games the league has held in Sweden.Yahoo Sports - 35m -
Warriors' Stephen Curry sits out game against the Bucks due to 'mental and emotional fatigue'
Stephen Curry will not play in the Golden State Warriors' game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night, sitting out for what coach Steve Kerr called an emotional and mental rest. “The last three games ...Yahoo Sports - 38m -
Warriors' Stephen Curry sits out game against the Bucks due to 'mental and emotional fatigue'
Stephen Curry will not play in the Golden State Warriors' game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night, sitting out for what coach Steve Kerr called an emotional and mental rest. “The last three games ...Yahoo Sports - 38m
More in Sports
-
Dylan Strome and the Capitals surge past the Red Wings 4-1
Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist and the Washington Capitals beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Tuesday night. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael also scored for Washington, ...Yahoo Sports - 32m -
Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators to play NHL Global Series games in Stockholm in November
The games at newly renovated Avicii Arena are set to be the 47th and 48th games the league has held in Sweden.Yahoo Sports - 35m -
Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators to play NHL Global Series games in Stockholm in November
The games at newly renovated Avicii Arena are set to be the 47th and 48th games the league has held in Sweden.Yahoo Sports - 35m -
Warriors' Stephen Curry sits out game against the Bucks due to 'mental and emotional fatigue'
Stephen Curry will not play in the Golden State Warriors' game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night, sitting out for what coach Steve Kerr called an emotional and mental rest. “The last three games ...Yahoo Sports - 38m -
Warriors' Stephen Curry sits out game against the Bucks due to 'mental and emotional fatigue'
Stephen Curry will not play in the Golden State Warriors' game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night, sitting out for what coach Steve Kerr called an emotional and mental rest. “The last three games ...Yahoo Sports - 38m