The NASCAR community is on edge as the Denny Hamlin NASCAR charter dispute escalates, with a looming December 1 trial threatening to trigger an internal conflict reminiscent of motorsport’s most damaging divisions. The increasingly polarized atmosphere has industry insiders warning that the stakes could undermine not just the sanctioning body but the very fabric of stock car racing itself.
Rising Tensions as Owners and Teams Fracture Over Charter Negotiations
Recent developments indicate that fractures are deepening between NASCAR teams, as the long-standing alliance between 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports intensifies its push for changes to the sport’s charter system. Behind the scenes, notable team owners have reportedly withdrawn their support from this alliance, heightening the sense that a major power struggle is underway. The concern is that this dispute could spiral into a civil war within the sport, threatening its stability for years to come.
To understand the potential consequences, it is instructive to recall the dramatic split in American open-wheel racing during the 1990s. In that era, the rift between Tony George, leader of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the CART leadership led to a schism that divided teams and alienated fans, with the effects lingering for over a decade. George sought to protect the tradition of oval track racing, while influential owners like Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi envisioned a different direction, resulting in a fragmentation from which IndyCar is still recovering. This history casts a long shadow, with parallels now being drawn as NASCAR’s charter negotiations reach a boiling point.
Within the current dispute, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are seeking substantial reforms, while much of the field appears to be backing NASCAR’s existing system. This split is fueling discontent among team owners, many of whom have grown weary of the ongoing unrest. As racing reporter Jordan Bianchi described during a recent broadcast,
“I talked to a lot of people on the team side, and they have made it very clear to me over the past few months that they’re frustrated with this,”
— Jordan Bianchi, Racing Reporter. He further captured the sentiment among paddock insiders, saying,
“And this is still ongoing, and they’re frustrated a lot with 23XI. ‘Why are we continuing to have this fight in a trading business?’ I had many team owners tell me – ‘Hey, this is hurting us and this is hurting our sport as we go forward, lets just push this aside, end this and move forward.’”
— Jordan Bianchi, Racing Reporter.
Drawing Parallels to IndyCar’s Costly Schism
While rumors of discord swirl, the situation is underscored by a public show of unity from the sport’s most established owners. Earlier in the negotiating process, Rick Hendrick, Joe Gibbs, Richard Childress, and Roger Penske each signaled their steadfast endorsement of the current NASCAR charter framework. This declaration sharply differentiated legacy organizations from those seeking change, drawing an unmistakable line between supporters of the status quo and the so-called rebel camps.
The context for this rift became more severe after the lawsuit was filed in October 2024. On the podcast “The Teardown,” Jordan Bianchi cautioned that if the dispute persists, the impact could be severe: dropping television ratings, lost sponsors, or even the emergence of a rival series. Such a scenario recalls the outcome of the open-wheel split, where alienated participants and spectators contributed to the long-term decline of the series.
Awaiting a Decisive Resolution as the Trial Approaches
With the trial date set for early December, NASCAR finds itself at a critical juncture, with the Denny Hamlin NASCAR charter dispute evolving from a contract disagreement to a fundamental contest over the sport’s direction. Team owners have been forced to pick sides, sponsors are reportedly anxious, and no quick solution appears in sight.
If the impasse continues, what began as a business disagreement could transform into a fracture that undermines the competitive strength of NASCAR for years to come. For all major entities involved—including Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, Jordan Bianchi, Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, and industry leaders like Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs—the coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether the sport can avoid reliving the grim history that almost destroyed open-wheel racing in the United States.
The outcome of this high-stakes charter battle may either cement NASCAR’s unity moving forward or trigger the kind of split that reshapes the landscape of American motorsport. Observers, team members, and fans alike are awaiting the trial’s resolution, hoping the sport can withstand the current turmoil.
BREAKING: @Jordan_Bianchi says the non-litigating teams have repeatedly urged @23XIRacing to abandon its antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, and are increasingly frustrated with @dennyhamlin & @Jumpman23 for continuing litigation that severely harms their teams and NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/U3tPGWjBV5
— whatsundersteer (@whatsundersteer) November 26, 2025
What do you think is the biggest threat the 23XI/FRM lawsuit poses to the sport’s future? 🤔@jeff_gluck | @Jordan_Bianchi pic.twitter.com/NRJERvZPLS
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) December 13, 2024
