Denny Hamlin admits 23XI Racing might not be on the grid in the 2025 season amid their lawsuit against NASCAR
13 of the 15 NASCAR teams have signed a new charter agreement. That agreement goes into 2031 for the NASCAR Cup Series.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports elected not to sign. Instead, they opened an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR regarding the charter agreement as they seek more favorable terms.
NASCAR lawsuit opened by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports
The team missed the deadline to sign, on purpose. Per court documents, NASCAR is now intending to race the 2025 season with only 32 charters instead of 36.
In court, the teams asked the judge for preliminary injunction to allow them to run the next season as a charter team despite not signing the agreement while the lawsuit plays out. On Friday, that request was denied but the team has the option to refile.
Judge rules on preliminary injunction in NASCAR lawsuit
Racing without a charter becomes even more expensive on a team. Non-charter teams earn significantly less, by design.
This weekend, 23XI Racing is racing for a championship. Tyler Reddick is one of four drivers in the battle for the title at Phoenix Raceway.
And in 2025, that same team might not be on the grid…
Michael Jordan entering NASCAR spawned from a joke
Denny Hamlin comments on the lawsuit against NASCAR
“We were obviously pleased with the ruling that the judge sees merit in the case,” Hamlin said.
“He’s going to move forward to expedite it, expedite the discovery side of it, which is a reverse from what he had before. Obviously giving us an opportunity to refile once the situation changes, because he knows that things will change over the next few months.”
“He understands the complexity of it and obviously understands that the situation is fluid, and we obviously could see some pretty bad harm coming up.”
“I hadn’t been in a court room since I was maybe 11. I was riding my bike as a kid and a car hit me. And, they ended up suing me. They lost.”
“We feel very adamant on our side of things. I’ve poured a lot into this sport in multiple ways and certainly financially over the last four years I’ve put a lot of the money that I got out of it, back into it.”
“That certainly could all be wiped away, pretty quickly. It’s a nervous time for me.”
“We hope that this thing gets resolved in a peaceful manner or in a correct manner. Certainly hate that we’re in the situation that we’re in after everything that we’ve put into this sport.”
Hear from NASCAR on the lawsuit from 23XI Racing
23XI Racing could be absent from the track in 2025
As for racing in 2025 without a charter…
“I think it’s all TBD. There are certain agreements we’re going to have to navigate, so I hope so,” Hamlin said of whether the team will be in Daytona.
That’s the first time Hamlin has mentioned the possibility of not running the No. 45 and No. 23 in 2025.
Tyler Reddick could win the championship today. Then, they could be absent from the grid when we get to Daytona next season.
“Furniture Row did it,” Hamlin stated as the team won a championship then sold off their organization.
“Depending on who you ask. I’m sure on one side, they could care less whether you’re here or not.”
“We got an obligation to do everything we can to have a fair system. We’re just one of the ones that got stuck on the front line.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing more that we want than to win this weekend.”
23XI Racing was founded in 2020 by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. The team currently fields the No. 45 driven by Tyler Reddick and the No. 23 driven by Bubba Wallace.
NASCAR calls team lawsuit “baseless”
Links
NASCAR | 23XI Racing | Front Row Motorsports
