The ongoing antitrust trial against NASCAR took an intense turn on its second day, as Richard Childress’s potential role became clear, setting the stage for a major shift in the courtroom. The situation escalated after hours of relentless questioning aimed at Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, and revealed that Childress may soon be called to testify as a plaintiff witness—a move that centers the Richard Childress antitrust trial at the heart of the sport’s turmoil.
Private Messages Reveal Executive Hostility
The storm began brewing when internal text exchanges surfaced, showing high-ranking NASCAR executives, including former President Steve Phelps, disparaging Childress as an “idiot” and a “redneck.” This deeply personal attack left Childress considering legal consequences before a more impactful plan emerged. The release of these messages highlighted bitter divisions between the sanctioning body and team owners, inflaming long-standing frustrations and adding emotional weight to courtroom arguments.
Childress to Be Summoned as Witness for Plaintiffs
During a session detailed by The Teardown podcast, it was made public that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will request Richard Childress, owner of the RCR team and Kyle Busch’s boss, to testify on their behalf. His expected testimony will focus on the language used by NASCAR executives in their messages—a development with the potential to directly challenge NASCAR’s position in the dispute.
Diverging Team Testimonies Bring Further Uncertainty
Lead attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who heads the legal team for 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, signaled turbulent waters ahead by revealing that another team may step forward in defense of NASCAR, expressing support for the current charter structure. However, Kessler pointed out an apparent contradiction: the supportive organization has allegedly lost more money than the plaintiffs, leading him to question the rationale behind their stance. Kessler requested court permission to fully address the unnamed team’s financial issues for the record.
“Going live on The Teardown shortly here to recap Day 2: https://t.co/OXz7dDTbei
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) December 2, 2025”
Courtroom Tension Remains High as Judge Insists on Openness
Judge Bell, overseeing the proceedings, turned down requests to make the trial private, emphasizing the necessity for transparency due to the public interest in antitrust issues. He ordered both teams to protect sensitive financial data, but maintained that the process must remain open, underscoring the scrutiny faced by all parties involved.
Plaintiff Lineup May Transform the Power Dynamic
The anticipated participation of Childress as a plaintiff witness escalates the case, especially as prominent teams such as Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have chosen not to publicly align with either side, remaining carefully noncommittal. Should Childress testify, three of NASCAR’s major organizations—23XI, Front Row Motorsports, and Childress’s group—would be arrayed against the sanctioning body, starkly altering the power balance in the ongoing struggle.
Broader Implications for NASCAR’s Future
To date, the trial’s focus has centered on Denny Hamlin’s testimony about the rising expenses, sponsorship fights, franchise values, and challenges of co-owning 23XI Racing, with deep dives into team finances and business motivations. With the possibility of Richard Childress entering the legal fray and recounting the executive contempt he endured, the narrative could pivot, bringing added distress and pressure to a process that already exposes the underlying rifts shaping NASCAR’s future.
Going live on The Teardown shortly here to recap Day 2: https://t.co/OXz7dDTbei
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) December 2, 2025
