Denny Hamlin, owner of 23XI Racing and a key figure in NASCAR, reacted to the latest legal filing in the ongoing suit between NASCAR and team owners late last night. Hamlin’s response, central to the current Denny Hamlin NASCAR lawsuit reaction, suggests he finds NASCAR’s recent move to be more beneficial to the teams’ position than NASCAR’s own interests, as the controversy unfolds in district court.
Team Owners Voice Support for Charters in Legal Battle
NASCAR filed new documents with the district court, providing statements from a range of team owners, including those from Open teams. The declarations collectively affirmed the financial importance of charters, with owners emphasizing their desire for these agreements to be extended long term, regardless of an individual team’s charter status. This coordinated support from team owners highlights the general consensus within the garage that retaining charters is crucial for financial stability.
Following these developments, Denny Hamlin initially shared comments on Twitter and then addressed reporters directly at Charlotte, clarifying his perspective on the situation. Asked about NASCAR’s legal strategy and its potential impact, Hamlin said,
“You know, for them, I thought that it was truthfully more helpful for us than it was for them,”
— Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing Team Owner, via Bob Pockrass, FOX Sports. He continued,
“But I mean, [the team owners] said they were asked to do it.”
— Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing Team Owner, via Bob Pockrass, FOX Sports.
At this point, the latest filing does not appear to disturb operations for 23XI Racing or Front Row Motorsports. NASCAR’s current legal move is a request for summary judgment, hoping to have the court dismiss the case entirely. Court proceedings so far suggest a resolution may not be straightforward, leaving the outcome uncertain and the tension high among all parties involved.
Hamlin Criticizes Contradictions in NASCAR’s Approach
The focal point of NASCAR’s filing is the inclusion of team owner statements, which, while intended to bolster NASCAR’s position, deviated from the organization’s previous arguments. The legal debate over the charter system is especially pronounced: while NASCAR has communicated a willingness to end the charter arrangement and revert to its past model, team owners contest this approach, warning that the former system is unsustainable for modern teams.
Hamlin amplified this contradiction by highlighting a quote from NASCAR’s attorney Christopher Yates:
“NASCAR would be perfectly fine going back to that (pre-charter) model.”
— Christopher Yates, NASCAR Attorney. This disconnect underscores the discord between NASCAR’s public stance and the preferences of the team owners, driving home the frustration and agitation throughout the industry.
Neither 23XI Racing nor Front Row Motorsports has advocated for revoking or altering the charter system. The present lawsuit does not challenge the existence of charters as anticompetitive or problematic. Instead, the legal complaint focuses on broader antitrust allegations, including issues with NASCAR’s supply of single-source parts, ownership of most major racetracks, acquisition of ARCA, restrictions on Cup drivers participating in other series, and the management of intellectual property for the Next Gen car.
Denny Hamlin’s legal team maintains that these business practices, rather than the charter system, lie at the heart of the antitrust claims. The ultimate decision will rest with the court later this year, and the case continues to spotlight the broader power dynamics between NASCAR leadership, team owners, and stakeholders such as Front Row Motorsports and ARCA.
Wider Implications for NASCAR’s Future
This legal episode is shaping the dialogue about NASCAR’s future business model and the sport’s governance. The way the district court rules on questions of anti-competitive conduct, charter value, and the structure of stock car racing will affect not only teams like 23XI Racing but the entire racing landscape, potentially influencing how drivers, team owners, attorneys, and organizations interact for years to come. As the community awaits the court’s decision, Denny Hamlin’s reaction and the latest developments highlight the agitation and mounting frustration felt by those involved in the process.
Denny Hamlin on NASCAR submitting declarations from several team owners urging to keep the charter system and for the lawsuit by his 23XI team and FRM against NASCAR to be resolved. pic.twitter.com/PmMadJgbgD
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 4, 2025
