The high-stakes Denny Hamlin NASCAR lawsuit drama has escalated as legal maneuvers and public statements intensify ahead of a pivotal court date. With Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing feeling let down by actions in the paddock, NASCAR’s charter system faces unprecedented scrutiny before a December 1 trial, leaving the sport’s top figures sharply divided over its future.
Charter System Debate Reaches a Boiling Point
NASCAR’s legal standoff with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has reached a critical juncture, as the sanctioning body filed for summary judgment in its antitrust dispute. With escalating litigation and a looming trial, influential team owners have emerged to defend the legitimacy of NASCAR’s current charter system. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, has been especially vocal, challenging the narrative and revealing feelings of betrayal as backroom maneuvering intensifies.
This dramatic legal battle stems from the teams’ push for permanent charters, arguing that long-term sponsor confidence and team viability depend on stable ownership rights. Instead of agreeing, NASCAR introduced a new charter proposal with a deadline, bypassing many of the Race Team Alliance’s core concerns—prompting Michael Jordan and Hamlin to pursue litigation in defense of their team and what they see as the future of the sport.
Brad Keselowski Points to Flexibility in Participation
Among the prominent voices in this clash is Brad Keselowski, a co-owner and seasoned driver, who submitted a detailed declaration highlighting NASCAR’s stance on participation in outside series. Keselowski underlined his experience racing in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a rival stock-car series. He shared,
As a successful driver, I love competing in all sorts of motorsports. I was approached by a short-track series called Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) about driving in SRX races. SRX was a series composed of stock vehicles that raced on short tracks in America. Unlike many motorsports series, including the Cup Series, there were no separately owned teams in SRX. Instead, SRX owned all cars, directly hired drivers, and provided the pit crews.
— Brad Keselowski, Driver/Co-owner
He continued to stress NASCAR’s lack of restrictions on his involvement, stating,
I raced in the entire SRX series season (six races) in 2023 while continuing as a co-owner of, and driver for, a Cup Series team. NASCAR did not prohibit my participation in the SRX series,
— Brad Keselowski, Driver/Co-owner
This sworn declaration serves as a pivotal point in the lawsuit. NASCAR has official limits on how frequently Cup Series drivers with several years in the sport can compete in the Xfinity and Truck Series, but regulations do not clearly restrict participation in completely separate leagues such as the SRX. Keselowski raced the entire SRX season in 2023, tying for second in the championship amidst tracks like Stafford Motor Speedway and Eldora Speedway. This participation is being used to counter claims of monopolistic control by NASCAR over its drivers’ business opportunities and outside ventures.
Notably, the SRX series was founded by Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham, both recognized as NASCAR Hall of Famers. Keselowski’s active involvement, without any reported intervention from NASCAR despite the series being a direct, if smaller, competitor, stands as evidence for the defense that NASCAR does not exercise absolute control over drivers’ outside engagements.
Motor racing has a history of notable participants engaging in outside events, such as Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart’s appearances in the International Race of Champions series. Historically, these instances were sanctioned abroad, or occurred with implicit approval from NASCAR, hinting at some degree of flexibility depending on relationships and visibility.
Journalist Adam Stern spotlighted this in the legal filings, quoting Keselowski’s statement,
I was approached by a short-track series called Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) about driving in SRX races. I raced in the entire SRX series season (six races) in 2023. … NASCAR did not prohibit my participation in the SRX series.
— Brad Keselowski, Driver/Co-owner (via Adam Stern)
Team Owners Outline the Value of Charters
Backing NASCAR, established team owners like Richard Childress and Roger Penske have publicly underscored the importance and benefits of the charter system. Childress addressed the business model’s challenges and the vital role charters play, explaining,
The Charter system has helped create long–term equity value and has allowed for team equity value to grow. Without Charters, the team ownership model is unsustainable. That is why I remain committed to finding a mutually agreeable solution that will provide permanent Charters to all Charter holders,
— Richard Childress, Team Owner
Roger Penske, highlighting his own confidence in the charter approach, noted how his belief encouraged similar moves elsewhere in motorsports. He commented on the impact, saying he saw his
belief in the value of the NASCAR Charter system
— Roger Penske, Team Owner
as a basis for instituting a charter-like system in the IndyCar Series for the 2025 racing season. Penske described the charter agreement extended to all full-time IndyCar teams, reflecting NASCAR’s influence on business models throughout the racing industry.
The combination of high-profile backing and legal maneuvering shows the depth of divisions within the NASCAR community. While NASCAR and several major owners believe the current system provides equity value and sustainable competition, this perspective stands in strong opposition to the grievances of teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, who demand lasting change and security for their investments and sponsors.
Denny Hamlin Strikes Back as Pressure Mounts
As legal filings and media scrutiny have intensified, Denny Hamlin has emerged as a fiery critic of the process and a defender of team interests. Since the early days of the Race Team Alliance campaign for permanent charters, Hamlin and fellow co-owner Michael Jordan have insisted that a stable model is crucial for attracting sponsors and ensuring long-term success. But after NASCAR moved forward with a revised charter plan, blindsiding many teams with a short deadline and without addressing core concerns, the 23XI Racing duo took their fight to the courts, determined to force the issue.
NASCAR took an aggressive stance in its legal brief, accusing 23XI Racing of leveraging “greed or bruised ego” at the expense of the institution’s stability. The court, led by Judge Kenneth D. Bell, warned of significant potential changes to the charter system, regardless of the case’s outcome, adding a sense of uncertainty for all owners. This climate prompted nine team owners to urgently call for a solution, a move NASCAR quickly used to bolster its arguments against Hamlin and 23XI.
Hamlin, unyielding in his public defense, responded on social media with the words of NASCAR’s own attorney Christopher Yates, pointing directly at the heart of the dispute:
NASCAR would be perfectly fine going back to that pre-charter model.
— Christopher Yates, NASCAR Attorney (quoted by Denny Hamlin)
Accompanying the quote, Hamlin captioned,
In case you’re wondering who threatened the system.
— Denny Hamlin, Co-owner/Driver
This public pushback was reinforced legally by attorney Jeffrey Kessler, representing 23XI Racing. Addressing NASCAR’s tactics, Kessler responded,
We are confident NASCAR’s summary judgment motion is not going to succeed. This lawsuit has always been about making NASCAR more competitive and fair for the benefit of drivers, sponsors, teams, and fans who love the sport.
— Jeffrey Kessler, Attorney for 23XI Racing
The confrontation underscores the depth of frustration and sense of betrayal Hamlin and his allies feel toward NASCAR’s recent maneuvers. With Hamlin positioning himself as a truth-teller fighting for fairness, and with support from the likes of Michael Jordan, their continued resistance has rattled the sport’s power dynamics.
Implications for NASCAR’s Future and the Wider Sport
The endgame for the Denny Hamlin NASCAR lawsuit drama remains uncertain, but the stakes could not be higher. With the December 1 trial on the horizon, the divide between leadership and teams appears deeper than ever. Should the court side with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, NASCAR could face seismic changes to its charter model, affecting everything from team value to sponsor relationships and fan engagement.
Powerful owners like Richard Childress and Roger Penske have publicly tied the survival of teams to the charter system, emphasizing the role it plays in sustaining stable, long-term investments within the sport. Meanwhile, critics argue its flaws hamper innovation and fair competition. Regardless of outcome, the drama has cast a spotlight on NASCAR’s governance and business models, forcing tough conversations about how motorsports ought to operate in the future.
With major events and rival factions taking positions, figures like Kenny D. Bell, Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon watch developments closely, signaling that no matter who prevails, the outcome of this dispute will echo through the racing world for years to come. As fans, sponsors, and team owners await a resolution, Denny Hamlin stands at the front lines—determined, if conflicted, to shape a better future for all involved.
.@Keselowski in new @NASCAR filing tonight: "I was approached by a short-track series called Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) about driving in SRX races. I raced in the entire SRX series season (six races) in 2023. … NASCAR did not prohibit my participation in the SRX series."
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 4, 2025
