23XI and Front Row Motorsports Sue NASCAR
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Denny Hamlin has been reflecting on the reactions surrounding the antitrust lawsuit his race team filed against NASCAR this week. His fiancée, Jordan Fish, sent him a memorable clip from the film “Moneyball,” in which actor portraying Boston Red Sox owner John Henry remarks, “The first guy through the wall — he always gets bloody.” Hamlin found this quote resonant as 23XI Racing, which he co-owns with Michael Jordan, joined Front Row Motorsports to accuse NASCAR of operating as a monopoly in federal court. He mentioned that the response has largely been positive from people wanting to challenge the existing status quo. This shift has also eased his mind as he focuses on racing amidst the ongoing playoffs.
“It’s not like just one day we woke up and said, ‘This is going to happen,’” expressed Hamlin, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, after qualifying eighth for Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway. “This has been on the plate for a while. Now that the lawsuit is out, I can concentrate more on driving the No. 11 car.”
NASCAR Response and Industry Reactions
While Hamlin welcomed the opportunity to voice these concerns, others within the NASCAR garage are still processing the implications of this news. RFK Racing driver and owner Brad Keselowski commented, “It’s obviously the biggest story in the sport.” He likened it to the ongoing drama of the NASCAR landscape, noting that many will learn together how it unfolds.
Keselowski indicated that he doesn’t expect his team to join the lawsuit, a sentiment shared by six-time champion owner Richard Childress. Both RFK and Richard Childress Racing recently signed a 2025 charter agreement that prohibits teams from taking antitrust actions against NASCAR, which 23XI and Front Row declined to sign. Childress pointed out that teams felt pressure to agree to the new terms, stating, “We didn’t have a choice to sign them… It was just, ‘You sign it or you lose your charters.’”
When asked if he considers NASCAR a monopoly, Childress delivered a clear perspective: “If you want to race, you race in their park if you want to race NASCAR.” NASCAR has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit but is expected to respond to a court filing where 23XI and Front Row plan to seek a preliminary injunction next week.
The Significance of the Lawsuit for Drivers and Teams
Drivers are attentively following the developments, many acknowledging it is a monumental moment for NASCAR. Team Penske driver Joey Logano stated, “This is huge for our sport no matter what happens. It’s obviously big because we’ve never seen it before.” However, the outcome remains uncertain, leaving many drivers undecided on their stance.
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports expressed hope for a prosperous future for the sport, remarking on the potential growth compared to other professional leagues. Curtis Polk, co-owner of 23XI, highlighted concerns about driver salaries, noting they remain significantly lower compared to other athletes in various sports leagues. NASCAR drivers have observed a decline in salaries over the past few decades, with Kyle Larson commenting, “We’re probably one of the only sports, if not the only sport, where athlete salaries have gone down.”
Support from 23XI drivers, including Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, has been clear. Wallace stated, “It’s a crazy time to be in NASCAR, but I stand behind my team 100 percent.” McDowell, who secured the pole position for Sunday’s race, explained the financial strain on team owners like Bob Jenkins, who invests heavily to remain competitive.
Ultimately, when Hamlin was asked if 23XI’s financial contributions to NASCAR have been acknowledged by the organization, his pause spoke volumes. “Probably not,” he concluded.
Source and credits: www.nytimes.com
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