23XI and Front Row Motorsports have been heavily criticised on ESPN for the timing of their announcement of a lawsuit against NASCAR, against the backdrop of Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
The two teams announced on Wednesday that they are suing NASCAR and its CEO Jim France regarding 'anti-competitive practices', arguing that their use has prevented fair competition in the sport.
However, ESPN's Ryan McGee wrote a highly critical article published on Thursday, juxtaposing the incredible work being done by teams giving up their time and effort in North Carolina this week to aid in Hurricane Helene relief efforts against what he called a 'selfish' announcement.
"The timing of their move," McGee wrote, "from the tipping off of the lawsuit on Tuesday and the media teleconference on Wednesday -- the very same Wednesday that has been described to you above -- there is no debate to be had about that. It was selfish, classless and thoughtless. Wait a damn week."
What have NASCAR teams been doing in Hurricane Helene efforts?
As has been rightly lauded this week, a number of teams' pilots and truck drivers have been throwing themselves into helping communities ravaged by the devastating storm, basing at Charlotte Motor Speedway and helping deliver supplies.
Indeed, it was one of the NASCAR team-owned helicopters who rescued McGee's wife from a mountain in North Carolina last week.
Denny Hamlin, part-owner of the 23XI team with Michael Jordan, responded to the article on Twitter, replying to McGee's tweet (which also called the timing of the lawsuit announcement 'callous') saying simply 'Good grief Ryan..'
The general reaction online to McGee's article was negative, with a number of commenters pointing out that Jordan and 23XI have pledged a $1m donation to relief efforts, and were among the teams assisting in relief efforts on the ground this week too.
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
GP USA
3 - 5 May
GP ITALY
17 - 19 May
GP MONACO
24 - 26 May
GP CANADA
7 - 9 Jun
GP SPAIN
21 - 23 Jun
GP AUSTRIA
28 - 30 Jun
GP GREAT BRITAIN
5 - 7 Jul
GP HUNGARY
19 - 21 Jul
GP BELGIUM
26 - 28 Jul
GP NETHERLANDS
23 - 25 Aug
GP AZERBAIJAN
13 - 15 Sep
GP SINGAPORE
20 - 22 Sep
GP MEXICO
25 - 27 Oct
GP BRAZIL
1 - 3 Nov
GP QATAR
29 Nov - 1 Dec
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024 
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024 
Grand Prix of Australia 2024 
MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024 
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024 
Innovatieweg 20C