Earlier this month, the legal battle between NASCAR, Front Row Motorsports (FRM), and 23XI Racing reached a boiling point. After some initial setbacks, the sanctioning body launched its most aggressive move yet by filing a counter-lawsuit against 23XI and FRM. The stock car series accused the teams of forming an “illegal cartel” and engaging in anti-competitive tactics to pressure NASCAR into better financial terms.
In a detailed 30-page filing, NASCAR alleged that Curtis Polk, longtime business partner of 23XI owner Michael Jordan, orchestrated a movement to strong-arm the league. “Rather than simply rejecting the 2025 Charter terms, 23XI and FRM allegedly pursued a strategy of threats, coercion, and extortion to force NASCAR into meeting their financial and contractual demands,” NASCAR claimed.
The allegations sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community, making it clear that the fight was far from over. Now, almost a month after the escalation, 23XI Racing’s co-owner and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin has finally spoken up about it in the media. Hamlin, known for his fiery responses, surprisingly dodged some serious questions in his candid yet calculated response.
The ongoing antitrust lawsuit has already shaped the 2025 NASCAR season. Since the start of the season, it has been one of the biggest headlines. NASCAR wants to shut down 23XI and FRM’s case, while the teams aim to prove that the league has been monopolistic and unfair. This week teams responded to NASCAR’s counter-lawsuit and asked the Court to quash it. They even called it “an act of desperation.”
While the case continues in the court of law, Denny Hamlin was asked about the ongoing dispute. When asked if the legal process had made things more contentious between NASCAR and his team, Hamlin deflected. He asked for a definition of “acrimonious,” almost as if he wanted to avoid confirming any rising tension. Instead, he pointed out how slow the legal proceedings are.
“That stuff still takes so much time. A lot of it is just lawyers arguing over what keywords will be used, you know, essentially in text and emails and all that stuff. So, that’s still going to be a couple more months of the process,” said Hamlin. His comments revealed frustration with the slow pace of the case. While he downplayed any immediate conflict, he hinted that things would escalate soon. “This is a fast-tracked case, which is rare in the antitrust world. But things are going to start speeding up in the next few months.”
Denny Hamlin on the next steps in the 23XI/FRM lawsuit against NASCAR after 23XI and FRM filed a motion earlier this week to dismiss NASCAR’s counterclaim. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/91LWdVI4gd
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 30, 2025
Notably, the legal proceedings have been slow-moving. In October 2024, FRM and 23XI Racing filed the antitrust lawsuit. Things worsened for NASCAR when, in December 2024, a judge ruled that 23XI and FRM could continue operating as chartered teams while the lawsuit played out. NASCAR tried to block this, but the court sided with the teams. However, on May 9, 2025, the Richmond Court of Appeals will take up this matter.
Meanwhile, the original lawsuit has moved into the discovery phase, where both sides have been gathering evidence. The deadline for this process is September 19, 2025. The court also decided that after December 1, 2025, the trial for the antitrust lawsuit will begin, meaning the battle could last the entire year. For now, the uncertainty has created a tense atmosphere within the sport. However, Hamlin made it clear that he expects fireworks soon. But while the legal drama continues, Hamlin calls out NASCAR to make some changes in the sport.
Hamlin proposes a new rule amid the wreck fest at Martinsville!
NASCAR fans and drivers expect aggressive racing, but Saturday’s event at Martinsville took it to another level. The Xfinity race saw 14 cautions, a red flag, and nearly half the event run under yellow. But the final-lap incident was the breaking point for Denny Hamlin. As the checkered flag neared, Sammy Smith wrecked Taylor Gray in a desperate last-corner move for the win.
He took to social media and delivered a blunt, one-word assessment of the race: “Absolutely garbage.” But the three-time Daytona 500 winner didn’t stop there. Hamlin also used the moment to advocate for a new rule to prevent reckless driving at short tracks. “Martinsville is a track that could use an ‘avoidable contact’ penalty,” he wrote.
He wasn’t the only one frustrated. Many in the racing community, including longtime veterans, have complained about the lack of respect among younger drivers. The Martinsville race only reinforced their concerns. However, Hamlin’s push for change comes at a time when many in the sport are questioning NASCAR’s officiating standards. Will his idea gain traction? That remains to be seen. But for now, Smith backs his move.
In a post-race interview, he said, “I’m not very proud of what I did. It’s just that he just has no respect for me, and he was flipping me off under the red flag, swerving at my door. I moved him into (turn) one, then he still had the lead those two restarts, and going on the back straightaway, I thought to myself, what would he do in this situation, he would have done the same thing.” While Smith rejects any apologetic tone, things might get serious if NASCAR fails to step in.
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