Recently released legal documents from the ongoing antitrust lawsuit have brought sharp scrutiny to Denny Hamlin‘s leadership at 23XI Racing, revealing pointed criticism of his approach as a team owner. The revelations, which center on the issue of Denny Hamlin team owner criticism, come directly from an email authored by Michael Jordan’s Chief Financial Officer, adding another layer to Hamlin’s challenging year.
The controversial assessment is part of email exhibits submitted in March 2024, made public on November 7, well before the broader implications of 23XI Racing‘s antitrust battle became widely known. These documents, now open for public evaluation, highlight internal tensions and cast doubt on Hamlin’s business decisions at the team.
Internal Communications Expose Management Concerns
NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass shared excerpts from the CFO’s email, offering candid opinions about Hamlin’s dual roles. The CFO commended Hamlin’s talent as a driver but did not hold back on his critique of Hamlin’s choices as an owner. The email described Hamlin as a “terrible businessman” and highlighted his tendency to “spend more money” in pursuit of performance, suggesting flawed decision-making processes at the leadership level.
The CFO noted a pattern in Hamlin’s management, stating:
“He does not know as much as he thinks he does about race strategy and the other nuts and bolts of racing. Denny relies on regurgitating what Chris Gabehart says as if it were gospel. He is a terrible businessman. He ascribes to the dumb theory that if [you] spend more money it will translate into wins and speed.”
— Michael Jordan’s Chief Financial Officer
“This is only true to a small extent. He is always telling the team that money is no object and that he is making the decisions on how to spend it. This pushes the staff to make decisions that are not necessarily the best but they feel they have to make those decisions.”
— Michael Jordan’s Chief Financial Officer
This level of internal criticism has emerged at a moment when Hamlin is facing scrutiny not just from within his own team, but also in the public eye, following a turbulent season filled with professional setbacks.
A Difficult Season and Uncertain Future for Hamlin
Denny Hamlin has experienced a series of personal and professional challenges throughout the last season. After beginning with a new crew chief, Hamlin lost 23XI Racing’s charter, causing the team to race as an open entry—a significant setback for a once-solid Cup Series operation. Despite these hurdles, expectations for a long-awaited championship ran high, but his hopes for a title ultimately faded.
In the aftermath of losing the championship at Phoenix, Hamlin appeared visibly downbeat, leading to speculation about his future in NASCAR. Many observers compared his emotional struggle to that of Carl Edwards, who retired following a similarly painful title loss. As rumors swirled about his potential retirement, Hamlin addressed his future in the sport during an interview before the NASCAR awards banquet, saying:
“I plan to. I have a contract, but at this point, there’s just absolutely no way that I would even — I don’t even think about race cars right now. I’m gonna need some time on this one,” he said via X/Jeff Gluck
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver and Team Owner
The emotional toll of the title defeat was significant, with Hamlin admitting to feeling drained and exhausted by the experience. However, his situation drew empathy from across the NASCAR community. William Byron offered a personal apology for triggering a late-race caution, while 2025 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson saluted Hamlin during his championship acceptance. Notable veterans like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick expressed their support, and friends and family—including Hamlin’s father—remained central to his motivations.
Implications for 23XI Racing and NASCAR
The public airing of such pointed internal criticism, especially from a high-ranking 23XI executive, sheds light on mounting pressures inside the team and raises questions about leadership stability. The legal dispute and Hamlin’s tumultuous season could shape future decisions around team management, resource allocation, and Hamlin’s evolving role with 23XI Racing.
This episode emphasizes the scrutiny facing top-tier NASCAR owners and the complex balance between financial strategy, on-track success, and the well-being of everyone involved. As 23XI Racing and Denny Hamlin move into the next season, all eyes will be on how the team addresses these internal divisions and whether Hamlin can recover from these professional and personal setbacks.
From exhibits released, found this somewhat intriguing … from MJ's CFO email analyzing 23XI in March 2024 … Some might consider it a knock on Denny but my guess is it's not rare for a race team to have financial people at odds with those who lead racing/competition dept. pic.twitter.com/8q56Lf5LLm
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 10, 2025
