Kevin Harvick on NASCAR 23XI lawsuit reveals his concern that the ongoing legal battle involving 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR could have far-reaching consequences for all parties as a court date approaches in December. Harvick, speaking during his “Happy Hour” program, reflected on released text messages and the growing animosity between the racing teams and NASCAR, raising questions about the dispute’s impact and whether it can be resolved before it escalates.
Mounting Tensions as Legal Battle Intensifies
Kevin Harvick voiced unease as court proceedings over the 23XI lawsuit threaten to expose internal communications and deepen divisions. Reviewing the legal dispute, Harvick highlighted a bitter atmosphere emerging from the published texts.
“When I look at all the text messages, I think to myself there’s a lot of hate in this particular instance and animosity between the two sides,”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR driver. He emphasized the personal nature of the fight, observing that guidance from the presiding judge pointed to potential damage for both sides if the issue proceeds to a full court trial.
“I think at this point, it seems personal. When you look at all the things that the judge has told both sides, it’s like, ‘Hey, this is going to not end well for all of you. I would encourage you to work it out.’ I hope that we can get this worked out before Dec. 1 because I think it’s going to drag everybody through the mud.”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR driver.
Harvick also discussed the motivations of 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan, clarifying that the legal battle is not financially driven.
“There’s two sides that aren’t worried about money. They’re worried about fighting for what they believe is right and what is right and what is wrong, unfortunately, is in the court system,”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR driver. He again expressed hope for an internal resolution, stating,
“I hope that they can figure it out amongst themselves before it goes all the way to drag everybody’s face through the mud.”
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR driver.
Highlights from the Courtroom Testimony
Last week, during a hearing between NASCAR, 23XI, and Front Row Motorsports, arguments centered on whether teams would have their charter status reinstated and if NASCAR could reassign one of its charters for the 2026 season. Judge Kenneth Bell recommended settling the issue outside of court, urging all involved—including Jim France, chairman of NASCAR—to resolve the preliminary injunctions before any judgment is issued this week.
Text Messages Reveal Deep Divisions
The hearing featured evidence such as text messages between top NASCAR and team officials. NASCAR presented a message from its president Steve O’Donnell to commissioner Steve Phelps after a board meeting, which referenced the ongoing struggle over a proposed charter agreement in harsh terms, describing it as
“close to a comfortable 1996, f—- the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport.”
During the same session, messages provided by NASCAR included one from Denny Hamlin, a 23XI co-owner and Joe Gibbs Racing driver, directed to his colleagues:
“I’m in for the fight with NASCAR. My despise of the France family runs deep.”
—Denny Hamlin, 23XI co-owner and driver.
Another highlighted exchange came from Michael Jordan to Curtis Polk, his partner and adviser, stating:
“I think people understand our fight. Good things will come from this. Teams are going to regret supporting us. P—-!!!!!!!!”
—Michael Jordan, 23XI co-owner.
Antitrust Lawsuit and Its Potential Impact
The lawsuit, filed in October last year by 23XI and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR and its chairman Jim France, alleges that the sanctioning body’s management of new charter agreements violates United States antitrust statutes. The contested negotiations and resulting bitterness have now drawn in major names such as Steve Phelps, Michael Jordan, Curtis Polk, Steve O’Donnell, Judge Kenneth Bell, and Denny Hamlin.
With the court’s decision looming and the possibility of further damaging revelations if the case is not settled, industry insiders and fans alike are left waiting to see whether the dispute will conclude with an agreement or escalate further, risking long-term fallout within NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
