This Is The place the Enjoyable Begins

What a time to be NASCAR.

We’re simply days away from the beginning of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Playoffs {that a} very vocal portion of its fan base despises with the depth of 1,000 Jimmy Spencers.

So, after all, the Thursday (Aug. 28) earlier than the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway occurred to be a courtroom date.

Yes, attorneys for NASCAR and 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports as soon as once more trudged right into a federal courtroom room in Charlotte, N.C., for an additional day of slinging grime and dirt in a lawsuit that would change the game perpetually.

But this present day was completely different, my associates. This time, all sides introduced what the cool children name receipts.

They got here in type of what I can solely assume had been detailed PowerPoint displays.

We’ve reached the purpose within the proceedings the place a few of the documentation all sides has been capable of dig up by means of the method referred to as discovery is lastly making its method into the general public.

Text messages. Emails. Everybody’s soiled laundry is now being aired out.

Like the actual fact NASCAR at the very least has given some thought to purchasing Speedway Motorsports.

Now, context is vital. We don’t know the circumstances that went into this creation of this particular doc and even when it was made.

But its existence is a bullet within the chamber for the argument that NASCAR is a monopoly.

However, that was the purpose of right this moment’s courtroom drama. Each facet presenting proof they suppose helps their argument, whereas hurting the opposite facet.

Because of NASCAR, we now know Denny Hamlin‘s real feelings about the France family.

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On the flip facet — and because of a clarification from Bob Pockrass — we all know Steve O’Donnell truly thought a draft of a constitution proposal was dangerous for race groups and wanted to be improved.

Context is every little thing!

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Isn’t this enjoyable? I imply, enjoyable for everyone however NASCAR. Days like this are catnip for journalists.

However, the actual enjoyable isn’t supposed to start till Dec. 1, the scheduled begin date for the trial if it ever will get to that time.

When you get all the way down to it, even right this moment’s proceedings had been loads of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

No one has testified. NASCAR and Michael Jordan’s monetary statements haven’t been displayed for all of us to ogle over.

But we do know what His Airness referred to as Joe Gibbs Racing after it signed the constitution settlement.

We also know that a frustrated Steve Phelps at one point told O’Donnell and EVP Scott Prime to “give them the (contract), pick a date and sign it or lose their charters.”

Which is, ultimately, what happened when NASCAR presented teams with the charter agreement and gave them hours to sign it, or else.

According to The Athletic, Prime wrote to different executives that “we have all the leverage and the teams will almost have to sign whatever terms we put in front of them.”

Hmm …

However, possibly the perfect a part of Thursday’s listening to got here from the choose overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell.

Bell, in accordance with The Athletic, informed each events that “way too much (had been) sealed” within the case and every little thing that had been redacted to date could be put out into the open.

“This is going to be an open and public trial,” Bell mentioned.

Only if nobody blinks earlier than Dec. 1.

I hope each side replenish on Visine.