Denny Hamlin Stands Firm in 23XI Racing’s Legal Battle Against NASCAR
The owner of the NASCAR racing team, Denny Hamlin, remains firm despite recent setbacks in court, promising that “everything will be exposed” in the trial scheduled for December. This statement comes in the context of the federal antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing against the racing series. Last Thursday, a federal judge rejected a request from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to continue racing with their licenses while they litigate against NASCAR. This decision means that their six cars will participate as open entries this weekend in Dover, the following week in Indianapolis, and possibly longer. The teams argue that this situation could jeopardize their economic viability. United States District Judge Kenneth Bell denied the teams’ request for a temporary restraining order, indicating that they will be able to compete in the coming weeks and will not lose their drivers or sponsors before his decision on a preliminary injunction. The judge left open the possibility of reconsidering his decision if circumstances change in the next two weeks. After this weekend, the affected cars might need to be classified by speed if 41 entries are submitted, a possibility now that starting spots have opened. The trial date is set for December 1st, but the two teams are fighting to be recognized as license holders for the current season, which has 16 races remaining. A license guarantees one of the 40 grid positions each week, in addition to a basic amount of money that is paid weekly.23XI, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, and FRM filed their federal lawsuit against NASCAR last year after being the only two organizations out of 15 to reject NASCAR’s licensing extension offer. Jordan and FRM owner Bob Jenkins obtained a court order to recognize 23XI and FRM as license holders for the season, but the decision was overturned on appeal earlier this month, returning the case to Bell. Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and Joe Gibbs Racing driver, co-owns 23XI with Jordan and stated they were prepared to send Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Riley Herbst to the track each week as open teams. They requested the restraining order on Monday, alleging that through discovery they learned NASCAR planned to immediately begin the process of selling the six licenses, which would put “the plaintiffs in irreparable danger of not recovering their licenses and going bankrupt.” Hamlin stated that none of the setbacks have made him doubt the decision to file the lawsuit.“If they want answers, if they want to understand why all this is happening, on December 1st they will get the answers they are looking for,” Hamlin said on Saturday at the Dover Motor Speedway. “Everything will be exposed.”
Denny Hamlin
Reddick, who has a clause that allows him to become a free agent if the team loses its license, declined to comment on Saturday about all questions related to his future and the lawsuit. Hamlin also refrained from commenting on Reddick’s future with 23XI Racing. Reddick, one of the four remaining drivers in NASCAR’s $1 million Season Challenge, was last year’s regular season champion and competed for the Cup Series championship in the season finale. However, none of the six drivers affected by the court decision are assured for this year’s playoffs. It won’t be a problem to enter the race this weekend at Dover, as fewer than the maximum 40 cars have been entered. But if 41 cars show up somewhere this season, someone slow will be sent home, which means lost income and a missed opportunity to earn points in the standings.“December 1st is all that matters. Mark your calendars,” Hamlin said. “I would love to be doing other things. I have a lot going on. When I get in the car (today), nothing else will matter but that. I always give my team 100%. I always prepare, whether I have side jobs, side hustles, more kids, all that matters, but I always give my team all the time they need to make sure that when I get in, I’m 100% committed.”
Denny Hamlin
Smith, who is ranked 24th and would likely need a win to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs, said he supported Jenkins in his acrimonious legal battle that has overshadowed the stock car series for months. “I leave all that in your hands,” Smith said, “but my job is to get the best possible result with car 38.”“Nothing changes on my end, obviously, and nothing changes inside the shop,” said Front Row Motorsports driver Zane Smith. “Normally there aren’t even enough cars to worry about qualifying.”
Zane Smith
