Denny Hamlin: “Everything will be exposed” in the NASCAR trial
NASCAR racing team owner Denny Hamlin stands firm in the face of legal setbacks. He assures that “everything will be exposed” in the trial scheduled for December, as part of 23XI Racing’s federal antitrust lawsuit against the auto racing series. A federal judge rejected the request of 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 for longer. The teams claim that this situation could jeopardize their continuity. 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 his decision on a preliminary injunction. Bell left open the possibility of reconsidering his decision if things change in the next two weeks. After this weekend, the affected cars might have to be classified by speed if 41 participants register, a possibility now that starting positions 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, as well as a base amount of money paid each week.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 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, sending the case back 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 never 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 declined to comment on Reddick’s future with 23XI Racing. Reddick, one of the four drivers remaining 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. But none of the six drivers affected by the court decision are assured of this year’s playoffs. Securing a spot on the grid won’t be a problem this weekend in 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 lost revenue and a missed opportunity to earn 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 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 racing series for months. “I leave all that in your hands,” Smith said, “but my job is to get the best possible result for the 38.”“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 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
