Denny Hamlin Stands Firm in 23XI Racing’s Legal Battle Against NASCAR
NASCAR racing team owner Denny Hamlin is standing firm despite recent legal setbacks. Amidst the antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing against the racing series, Hamlin vowed that “everything will be exposed” in the trial scheduled for December.A federal judge rejected the request from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to continue competing with their licenses while they face NASCAR in court. This means that their six cars will compete as open participants this weekend in Dover, next week in Indianapolis, and possibly beyond, a situation that, according to the teams, could put their economic viability at risk.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell denied the teams’ request for a temporary restraining order, arguing that they will be able to compete in the coming weeks and will not lose their drivers or sponsors before a decision is made on a preliminary injunction. Bell left open the possibility of reconsidering his decision if circumstances change in the next two weeks. After this weekend, the affected cars may have to be classified by speed if 41 participants register, a possibility that has arisen now that starting places have opened. The trial is scheduled for December 1st, but the two teams are fighting to be recognized with licenses for the current season, which has 16 races remaining. A license guarantees a place on the 40-car grid each week, as well as a base amount of money 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 that rejected NASCAR’s license 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 said 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 that 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 assured that none of the setbacks have made him doubt the decision to file the lawsuit.“If you want answers, you want to understand why all this is happening, on December 1st you will get the answers you seek,” Hamlin said on Saturday at 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 declined to comment 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 qualify for this weekend’s race at Dover, as fewer than the maximum 40 cars have entered. But if 41 cars show up anywhere this season, someone slow will be sent home, meaning loss of income and a missed opportunity to score points in the standings. “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.” Smith, number 24 in the rankings and someone who would probably need a victory 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 38 the best possible result.”“December 1st is the only thing that matters. Mark your calendar,” 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 activities, 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
