The Roval race weekend’s racing festivities have been overshadowed by off-track developments in the 23XI/FRM vs. NASCAR lawsuit, with a plethora of team owners opting to side with the sports authorities in support of preserving the charter system.
Following the same, it looked like the Denny Hamlin co-owned team would be in for a tough trial ahead, given the tide was entirely against them. However, the 44-year-old has put a massive spin on things, following a bombshell revelation ahead of Sunday’s event.
Denny Hamlin Alleges Foul Play in NASCAR Team Owner Statements
Following the statements issued by several team owners expressing their interest in preserving the charter system, NASCAR saw an opportunity to tighten its hold on the matter. They decided to go for the jugular by listing three points why the lawsuit should be dismissed instead of continuing with the proceedings, leaving the complainants in a difficult position.
The first of those points claims that no team tried to start its own series, so they have no right to say that charter provisions were harmful to them. Next, they say that the charter provisions do not harm the competitive process or the consumer market.
Finally, NASCAR says that defining the market as premier stock-car racing is too narrow and irrelevant to the charter issue at hand. Thus, based on these three points, the sport’s governing body wants to dismiss the lawsuit filed by 23XI/FRM.
Despite the adversity, 23XI refuses to back out of the fight, with Hamlin taking center stage after Saturday’s session. Speaking to Bob Pockrass, the 44-year-old claimed that the statements had done his team more good than people think, particularly because NASCAR forced them.
“You know, for them, I thought that it was truthfully more helpful for us than it was for them. But I mean, [the team owners] said they were asked to do it.”
Denny Hamlin on NASCAR submitting declarations from several team owners urging to keep the charter system and for the lawsuit by his 23XI team and FRM against NASCAR to be resolved. pic.twitter.com/PmMadJgbgD
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 4, 2025
Hamlin’s words came after his team and Bob Jenkins’ FRM filed a lawsuit against NASCAR following their refusal to sign the latest charter agreement.
So far, the lawsuit hasn’t gone well for either team, with NASCAR standing tall at every critical juncture. As a result, both 23XI Racing and FRM have lost their charter status and are now running in the Cup Series as open entries.
With team owners bleeding money through multiple open entries, they have no choice but to put all their eggs in one basket and hope for a positive outcome from the Jury Trial. If not, then Pockrass foresees a Ganassi-style exit loading for 23XI Racing.