The battle is real and the battle is bitter as the NASCAR trial of the century continues into day four in Charlotte.
The sport is defending an antitrust suit by the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports right now. With spice added by the fact 23XI is co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and superstar driver Denny Hamlin.
The first three days of the trial are completed, and at times the action in the courtroom has been tense and acrimonious.
Hamlin himself spent four hours on the stand on Monday and Tuesday - three of those hours in cross-examination. It was gripping stuff, often with an undertone of anger.
On Wednesday it was Front Row owner Bob Jenkins providing many of the juiciest nuggets - including the fact he has lost $100m running a team, and the fact the new Next Gen car has almost trebled costs for teams. Absolutely wild.
NASCAR lawyers in trouble with Judge Bell
But once day three was over there was a nasty shock in store for NASCAR’s lawyers, who were ripped by Judge Kenneth D. Bell - once jury had been allowed to leave for the day. The reason? Those lawyers had violated not one but two court orders.
Respected Motorsport reporter Matt Weaver wrote: “Court let out and after the jury was dismissed, Judge Bell admonished NASCAR's lawyers
“Twice they have violated court orders. 1) Asking Bob Jenkins about his non-NASCAR businesses when it was agreed upon in advance that it wasnt on the table and disclosing a Jeff Dickerson text message verbally when it wasn’t admissible evidence.
“Bell said this will not be tolerated and the next time it happens, from either party, there will be significant consequences.”
As we said, the blood is bad and the intensity is real. And so to day four we go. Pass (some more) popcorn.
