Denny Hamlin has been in the limelight for more than just his recent performances. Alongside driving the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), Hamlin also co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan.
As the team rises through the ranks and establishes itself among the big players in the Cup Series, it is also involved in a legal tussle with NASCAR.
After 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports sued NASCAR in September 2024 over new updates in the charter policy, the legal drama has only gotten tense over time. While both sides have established their firm stance, the legal battle has also polarized the NASCAR community. In a recent interview, Hamlin explicitly revealed where his team stands amidst the latest developments in the case.
The Latest Developments in the 23XI Racing vs. NASCAR Case
After 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed their initial antitrust lawsuit last year, a U.S. district judge gave a green signal to their case. That means the teams could continue to run in the chartered category until a ruling was finalized.
While NASCAR weighed out its options, it was not long before it reacted. On March 5, NASCAR filed a counter-lawsuit against the teams and heavily leaned into a defensive stance.
MORE: Denny Hamlin Draws Line Amid NASCAR Legal Battle
As tensions between both parties rose, the court finally declared December 1 as the official commencement date of the trial.
Although Hamlin and Co. were gearing up to strengthen their case, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in NASCAR’s favor. This means NASCAR is no longer obligated to treat 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports as chartered teams.
Denny Hamlin’s Take on the Court’s Latest Rulings
After the details of the rulings were made public, Hamlin briefly faced the cameras to share his thoughts on the topic and clarify the team’s stance. The No. 11 driver began by stating that both teams are confident in the case and are looking forward to the legal proceedings, which are scheduled to start in early December.
He further stated that his team is committed to racing and is even prepared to run in the open category. Hamlin mentioned that their legal team is weighing all options to advance their case.
Denny Hamlin on the US Court of Appeals vacating the injunction 23XI Racing and Front Row had obtained to race this year as chartered teams. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/OQM2OnTvYy
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 7, 2025
Following this, Hamlin touched upon the management side of things in his team. The No. 11 driver had a clear message for his employees as the legal battle intensified. He said:
“We have been very transparent with all of our employees during the entire process. Every time something comes along, we communicate that before it becomes public. We have been very transparent.”
The 44-year-old further emphasized that no matter what the ruling states, “nothing will change in there. We’re gonna make sure that everyone’s taken care of.”
With that clarification, he also mentioned that everyone on the team is currently focused on doing their work as per the schedule.