HAMPTON, Georgia — 23XI Racing co-owner Curtis Polk described the battle between his team and NASCAR as “David versus Goliath,” suggesting that the organization — with co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — is far from signing the proposed extension of the charter agreement between NASCAR and the teams.

Polk told a small group of reporters on Sunday before the opening race of the NASCAR playoffs at Atlanta Motor Speedway that 23XI would continue to try to find terms acceptable to do business. On Friday, 13 of the 15 NASCAR team owners signed the agreement under the threat of losing their charters entirely if they did not meet the midnight deadline.

“They put a gun to our heads and we had to sign,” said one team owner who was granted anonymity to speak freely about the controversial deal. The athlete“It is what it is. We move on.”

Polk said that while other teams “may have felt pressured and coerced into signing the agreement under significant duress,” 23XI views the terms as “particularly damaging to our operations and the interests and intellectual property rights of our ownership group.”

“We no longer live in the 1960s, and these predatory practices will not stand up to scrutiny and will not be accepted in 2024,” Polk said.

The other owner who refused, Bob Jenkins of Front Row Motorsports, said his team’s concerns were “very similar to those of 23XI” and said it was not feasible for Front Row to sign the extension on such short notice.

“It was just hard to get a 105-page contract at 6 p.m. on Friday night and then be asked to sign it by midnight,” he said The athlete“We just didn’t feel like it was the right thing to do. I have nothing against the guys who signed it. I know a lot of people felt uncomfortable about it but felt like they had to do it.”

The teams have been seeking more favorable terms in their charter agreement with NASCAR for several years, and NASCAR has relented on one key point, offering to take more revenue from the media rights deal. But the teams said NASCAR Chairman Jim France, the son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., was unwilling to budge on several other key demands.

“Our concerns are based on certain unilateral aspects of the contract that we believe were not adequately addressed, and we seek a fair resolution,” Polk said. “Our concerns are also about the fairness of the process itself. The contract offer took away significant rights, and we believe all teams, including those that signed, may not have been given a real opportunity to negotiate or fully understand the impact of the contract terms.”

“It is important to fully consider the long-term impacts of these conditions, which could be detrimental not only to all teams but to the sport as a whole.”

Polk said he would not elaborate on the terms of the deal because NASCAR has asked that negotiations not take place in the media. Polk said he has not met France in person since May and feels 23XI’s demands have not been implemented or addressed in any revised version of the deal.

“NASCAR has superior bargaining power and undue influence over the sport and the charter process,” Polk said. “They have continually abused that power over the past few months, consistently rejecting comprehensive team requests on major issues while making minor changes on minor issues that some teams have requested in one-on-one meetings.”

So what does this mean for 23XI and Front Row after NASCAR threatened to revoke the charters of those who didn’t sign by Friday’s midnight deadline? That’s unclear, and NASCAR hasn’t made a decision yet and declined to comment for this story.

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Polk said 23XI sent NASCAR a letter on Friday before the deadline and is waiting for a response. He also did not rule out taking the case to court if necessary.

“I’m not going to speculate on what we’re going to do,” Polk said. “We’re going to protect our rights, and whatever we have to do to protect our rights, we’re going to do it.”

So could 23XI let its charter contracts (worth between $25 million and $50 million) expire and race without its cars having guaranteed spots and money next season? Polk said that’s possible.

“We have the resources to compete in races if we want to,” he said.

Not all team owners were so dissatisfied with the new charter agreement.

“There are elements that I really like and some things that leave something to be desired,” said one team owner. “It’s a better arrangement than the one we currently have. I feel like I can build a business model around it.”

One longtime team manager said he respects the new teams for their efforts to help build the sport through tough negotiations, adding: “I was here before the charter system, and the current system is much better.”

“This is another step, a good step, to get what we want,” he added. “Obviously we would like a better deal, it’s not perfect. But NASCAR’s focus on teams has never been more sincere. (NASCAR President Steve) Phelps is doing a good job; Jim has listened well.”

“I don’t think they’re the evil empire. They’re not Darth Vader.”

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(Top photo of the 23XI logo on Tyler Reddick’s car: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)