In a relentless session at the ongoing antitrust trial, Denny Hamlin, noted NASCAR driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing, endured a lengthy and heated cross-examination in court. Taking the stand for most of the day, Hamlin fielded pointed questions from NASCAR’s legal team, revealing deep tensions over the sport’s management and financial structure, and thrusting the Denny Hamlin NASCAR trial into the spotlight.
NASCAR Questions Hamlin’s Consistency and Financial Management
The courtroom atmosphere escalated quickly as NASCAR’s attorneys highlighted Hamlin’s past public remarks, drawing from his emails and podcast appearances where he spoke positively about NASCAR and the Next Gen car. The lawyers challenged Hamlin by suggesting he had changed his stance for purposes tied to the antitrust case, implying inconsistency in his statements and approach.
Hamlin responded that his supportive public comments were largely a result of the restrictive culture within NASCAR, pointing out that he often feels compelled to deliver
“talking points to make fans happy”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver/Team Owner. He emphasized the pressure he faces, stating,
“Anytime I say anything negative, I get a phone call from NASCAR.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver/Team Owner. When pressed further on his credibility, Hamlin dismissed the suggestion that he could not be trusted publicly, labeling it “nonsense.”
23XI Racing’s Finances Come Under Scrutiny
The cross-examination then pivoted to the financial health of 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. NASCAR’s attorneys attempted to undercut Hamlin’s claims by referencing financial data, asserting that the team is valued at $160.2 million from an initial investment of $10.7 million, implying the operation was profitable.
Hamlin, however, challenged the notion that short-term financial success is the goal, insisting that the bigger issue is creating a viable, long-term enterprise capable of enduring in the fiercely competitive world of NASCAR.
Internal Communications Spark Debate Over Overspending
NASCAR’s legal team presented internal emails between 23XI advisor Curtis Polk and financial associates linked to Michael Jordan, citing worries about Hamlin’s spending—particularly referencing large expenditures such as a third team charter and the Airspeed business facility project. Instead of accepting these as signs of financial mismanagement, Hamlin argued that such oversight is routine and the role of an advisor like Polk is to ensure appropriate budgeting and spending, not to question every business decision’s necessity.
Broader Stakes for NASCAR’s Competitive Landscape
The intensity of the cross-examination underscored the larger fight at the heart of the Denny Hamlin NASCAR trial: a battle over financial control and competitive fairness between individual teams, owned and driven by figures like Hamlin, and the NASCAR organization itself. As Hamlin left the witness stand for a break, the visible strain in the courtroom hinted at a coming confrontation that extends beyond this trial—threatening to reshape the relationship between drivers, owners, and the sport’s governing body.
With the trial continuing and both sides refusing to back down, the outcome could prove pivotal for NASCAR’s future. The result may not just determine the verdict but could shift the economic balance of power, affecting everyone invested in professional stock car racing.
NASCAR lawyer has been showing that Hamlin has publicly praised NASCAR in the past in emails and on podcasts. However, Hamlin claimed that he is just reiterating talking points to make fans happy, and if he doesn’t do that, then he hears about it from NASCAR.
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) December 2, 2025
Denny Hamlin now being cross-examined by #NASCAR legal team
Key notes:
– Appearance on Kenny Wallace podcast mentioned where Hamlin supposedly talked positively about the Next Gen car– Hamlin responded with, “anytime I say anything negative, I get a phone call from NASCAR”
-…
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) December 2, 2025
