Denny Hamlin Asserts “Everything Will Be Revealed” in NASCAR Lawsuit
The owner of the NASCAR racing team, Denny Hamlin, remains firm despite recent legal setbacks. Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, has promised that “everything will be exposed” in the trial scheduled for December, as part of the federal antitrust lawsuit filed against the racing series. A federal judge rejected a request from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to continue racing with their licenses while litigating against NASCAR. This means their six cars will compete as open entries this weekend in Dover, next week in Indianapolis, and possibly longer, a situation that, according to the teams, could put them at risk of bankruptcy. 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 that they will not lose their drivers or sponsors before his decision 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 might need to be classified by speed if 41 participants register, a possibility now that places have opened up. The trial is scheduled for December 1st, but the two teams are fighting to be recognized with a license for the current season, which has 16 races remaining.23XI, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, and FRM filed the 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 with a license 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-owner of 23XI with Jordan, stated that 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 asserted that none of the setbacks have made him doubt the decision to file the lawsuit.If you want answers, if you want to understand why all this is happening, on December 1st you will get the answers you are looking for. 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 the [$1 million In-season Challenge](https://apnews.com/article/nascar-dover-logano-682b457dbdfb617e06bf487614a8c358) of NASCAR, 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 ruling are assured for this year’s playoffs. It won’t be a problem to get to the track this weekend in Dover, as less than the maximum 40 cars have been entered. But if 41 cars show up anywhere this season, someone slow will be sent home, which means lost income and the opportunity to earn points in the standings. Zane Smith, a Front Row Motorsports driver, stated that his approach hasn’t changed despite the situation. Smith, who is in 24th place in the standings and would likely need a win to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs, said he supports Jenkins in his bitter legal battle that has affected the stock car racing series for months.December 1st is the only thing that matters. Mark your calendars. 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 of 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
