Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR censorship allegations took center stage as he served as the only witness on the first day of a highly watched charter dispute trial in Charlotte, raising concerns about the sport’s treatment of dissenting voices. Unexpectedly, an ex-intern from a NASCAR team has stepped forward to support Hamlin’s statements, giving new weight to the ongoing controversy.
Hamlin Takes the Stand in NASCAR Antitrust Dispute
Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona winner and the sport’s oldest active Cup Series driver, appeared in court to testify in a legal battle between his 23XI Racing team, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR regarding claims of monopolistic practices. Hamlin, now in his mid-40s and a long-standing member of Joe Gibbs Racing, faced intense cross-examination about various aspects of his career, including his dealings in business and finance. The session also delved into a recent appearance on The Kenny Conversation with Kenny Wallace, where Hamlin spoke positively about the Next Gen car and the Mexico City race debut.
NASCAR’s attorney, Lawrence Buterman, attempted to paint Hamlin’s public comments as self-interested, probing inconsistencies and seeking to undermine his credibility during questioning. Despite this, Hamlin remained unyielding, reaffirming that negative remarks about the organization often lead to repercussions for those within the sport. As Hamlin stated,
“If I say anything bad, I get a lashing from NASCAR. So, publicly, it’s all sunshine and rainbows.”
– Denny Hamlin, Driver
Former Intern Steps Forward With Her Experience
Adding another dimension to the Denny Hamlin NASCAR censorship allegations, Emily Grindstaff, who worked as an intern for JTG Daugherty (currently Hyak Motorsports), publicly corroborated Hamlin’s statements. Recalling her own experience on social media, Grindstaff shared how the culture within NASCAR can affect even those in junior roles. She revealed,
“I was also 19, an intern, and brand new to the industry & was an intimidated kid. This situation gutted me & absolutely scared me into acquiescence,”
– Emily Grindstaff, Former Team Intern
Despite feeling pressure from NASCAR, she expressed gratitude for the internal support at her team, writing,
“But the team I worked for fullyyyy had my back. They were the best, and I loved that team/job JTGD forever.”
– Emily Grindstaff, Former Team Intern
Grindstaff recounted an incident from All-Star weekend in 2012 to illustrate the atmosphere described by Hamlin. She posted,
“In 2012, I posted a tweet saying I didn’t understand the All-Star race format & within two hours, my team owner called me in to tell me they got a call from NASCAR threatening to fine me & the team for my comment. Yes, they silence, intimidate & censor industry members.”
– Emily Grindstaff, Former Team Intern
Team Dynamics and Shifting Alliances Amid Dispute
Hyak Motorsports, formerly JTG Daugherty, surprisingly became one of the teams siding with NASCAR in the ongoing court dispute. Gordon Smith, the organization’s principal owner since late 2023, confirmed that the team received multiple versions of the 2025 Charter agreement throughout the year. On September 6, 2024, Hyak accepted NASCAR’s final offer, emphasizing that the new Charter brought increased revenue and preserved the team’s future by guaranteeing their slot—a critical source of stability for any NASCAR team.
Structural Power and Industry Constraints
The trial spotlighted NASCAR’s longstanding position of authority, a structure giving limited leeway to owners, drivers, and staff to challenge leadership without risking consequences. Hamlin’s willingness to testify openly, now echoed by accounts such as Grindstaff’s, brings greater visibility to concerns over how the organization manages internal criticism. This raises serious questions about transparency and the rights of participants to express their views in a sport marked by high stakes and closed-door negotiations.
With both high-profile drivers and employees with less visibility sharing similar encounters, the Denny Hamlin NASCAR censorship allegations are set to become a pivotal issue for the industry. The trial continues, with implications for the future of team independence, media access, and how open dissent is treated in the motorsports world.
#NASCAR's council then asked Hamlin about his appearance on the Kenny Wallace Podcast, where he mentioned that the NextGen car was a net-positive about the sport — and didn't say anything negative about the racecar.
🗨️ "Because if I say anything bad, I get a lashing from…
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) December 2, 2025
Note: I was also 19, an intern, and brand new to the industry & was a intimidated kid. This situation gutted me & absolutely scared me into acquiescence.
But the team I worked for fullyyyy had my back. They were the best and I loved that team/job 🥹 JTGD forever.
— 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 (@EmilyKozel) December 2, 2025
In 2012, I posted a tweet saying I didn’t understand the all star race format & within two hours, my team owner called me in to tell me they got a call from NASCAR threatening to fine me & the team for my comment.
Yes, they silence, intimidate & censor industry members. https://t.co/2TKcIw1QIR
— 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 (@EmilyKozel) December 2, 2025
