Sports
“The Antitrust Awakening: Hamlin’s Call to Action Sparks Industry-Wide Rebellion”
Denny Hamlin, co-founder of 23XI Racing, has publicly criticized NASCAR and its CEO Jim France for what he describes as the sport’s “unfair” use of power. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Hamlin’s team, along with Front Row Motorsports, announced that they have initiated legal proceedings by filing an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR in a federal court located in North Carolina.
Hamlin, who partnered with NBA icon Michael Jordan and business associate Curtis Polk to establish 23XI Racing in 2021, has made significant investments in NASCAR. While the team has seen considerable success on the racetrack, the last couple of years have been marked by significant off-track conflicts, primarily centered around disputes regarding a new charter agreement with NASCAR.
The legal action arises from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ decision not to accept NASCAR’s final charter proposal presented at Atlanta Motor Speedway last month. After two years of negotiations, a major point of contention has been NASCAR’s unwillingness to make charters permanent.
Having been a Cup Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing since 2005, Hamlin feels that the sanctioning body has wielded its authority in a manner he considers unjust, prompting him to “exercise some options.” He expressed his views to Racer, stating:
“I didn’t realize until re-investing the money that I’ve made as a driver back into the sport to put on a show for Jim France and NASCAR, how unfair this whole system is.
“I didn’t expect them to exercise their power in what I see as an unfair way, and we reached a point where we collectively decided that enough was enough and it was time to take action.”
NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports have a tight grip on the tracks used in the series, effectively blocking any competing series from emerging. Additionally, NASCAR’s ownership of the Next Gen car means that teams are obligated to purchase parts exclusively from NASCAR-approved suppliers at set prices, which limits the car’s use outside of the NASCAR series.
Curtis Polk, co-owner of 23XI Racing, emphasized that their aim was to negotiate a fair agreement with NASCAR without feeling pressured into an unfavorable deal. As negotiations stalled, they sought advice from antitrust and sports attorney Jeffrey Kessler, which ultimately led to the decision to file the lawsuit. He expressed:
“We knew we had no leverage in this whole process.
“We’d meet with (NASCAR) about the things we thought would be better for the sport, not just for the teams but for the drivers, the fans, and for NASCAR and the France family to try and grow the sport. … We built this team for the sole purpose of running at the NASCAR Cup level. There’s nothing else I can do with these assets. I’m in a situation where I basically invested tens and tens of millions of dollars in a system where one person, basically, has the right to tell me I’m not going to get anything more and I can take it or leave it on September 6, and I knew that didn’t sound right and that’s why I went to Jeffrey and that’s why we’re where we are today.”
Kessler, who was brought on board by the race teams earlier this year to assist with their negotiations with NASCAR, believes that the situation underscores the need for a more equitable framework within the sport.
“(It’s) sort of a moment when the legal style basically confronts them and says, either you’re going to voluntarily change or you’re going to be changed and you can either get on the bus or get run over by the bus. No one wanted this litigation but NASCAR didn’t really give these teams any choice — you either submit to the bully or you fight. They’re going to fight.
“We think at the end of the day, NASCAR’s going to have to change because that’s what the legal system is going to require.”
“If NASCAR is willing to change, it’s got to be a significant change to make a fair system for the teams.
“If they’re not willing to do that kind of a deal, then they’ll take this case all the way to a jury and a judge, and that’s why I say they’ll be forced to change. It’s the same type of thing I went through with the NCAA, who had a choice to make. They could keep fighting in court and keep losing and have the new system thrust upon them or in that case, they finally sat down and said, we’re ready to transform the sport and we’ll be a part of it.
“That’s the type of choice that NASCAR is going to face.”
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
A former Ferrari engineer has criticised the decision to bring in Lewis Hamilton and thinks the Brit’s presence will mean “a lot of potential for drama”.
At the age of 40, seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton will form a formidable driver partnership with Charles Leclerc. His big switch comes at the expense of Carlos Sainz, who has performed well for the Italian squad but who was axed so they had room for their blockbuster new signing.
But not everyone of a Ferrari persuasion is convinced that it will go well. Ernest Knoors, who spent many years as an engineer at Maranello, specialising in power units, worries that Hamilton’s presence could do more harm than good for a team that is finding its groove under Frederic Vasseur.
“A big name like Hamilton also brings a lot of politics and if politics within Ferrari are not managed well, then there is a lot of potential for drama,” he told Formule1.nl. “Hamilton has the tendency that if things do not work out, he turns his whole car upside down and starts experimenting.
“Ferrari believes very much in the big personalities and will follow him. But Hamilton is just someone you have to guide a little bit and not give the freedom to rebuild the whole car, because then it will go completely wrong. So I do not know if it is such a smart move, but of course it is nice for the sport.”
News of Hamilton’s planned move broke on February 1, coinciding with football’s Transfer Deadline Day. That the back pages of many newspapers were dominated by the decision of Hamilton to swap Mercedes for Ferrari was testament to the magnitude of the announcement.
Sainz was not surprised as he had been informed by his team of the plan ahead of it being made public. But the Spaniard responded well with two victories to date this season and five further appearances on the podium, on the way to what looks likely to be a fifth-placed finish in the championship – two spots and 54 points ahead of Hamilton.
Sainz has signed for Williams next year and, after several years of running at the front of the grid, will focus on his new challenge of helping restore one of the grid’s most historic teams to its former glory. But Knoors believes he should have been kept on by Ferrari instead.
The Dutchman added: “I see Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari more as a PR move. With all due respect, Hamilton is not going to take that Ferrari from P6 to P1. He will get the most out of it, but what Ferrari has to do is make that car faster. And if you make that car faster, you can easily drive at the front with the current line-up.
“Besides, as a team you have to look further on the horizon. If Hamilton becomes champion in the coming years, he and Ferrari will become immortal. But if you want to build a team with talent for the next five years, are you going to build on Hamilton? No, because he will really be finished after two or three years. That is why I would have kept the very strong line-up that Ferrari has now.”
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Chase Elliott had a front-row seat for one of NASCAR’s most bizarre moments of the 2024 Cup Series season. At the start of Stage 2, the pace car dove onto pit road in front of Elliott; however, it was a tad too late. The pace car made contact with the sand barrels at the entry of pit road and caused a red flag for cleanup.
Initially, there was some speculation on the NBC Sports broadcast, even from the No. 9 team, that Elliott made contact with the pace car. Fortunately, the pace car didn’t slide across the No. 9 car’s nose, but it undoubtedly provided one of NASCAR’s craziest red flag moments in recent memory.
Below, you can listen to Elliott and the No. 9 team react to the pace car crashing into the sand barrels on pit road at Phoenix during Championship Weekend!
Reflecting on the recent retirement of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Earnhardt didn’t mince words about the toll NASCAR takes on its drivers. Speaking candidly, the two-time Daytona 500 winner admitted that the pressure to perform every week left him feeling miserable for most of his racing career—a sentiment he believes is shared by many of his peers.
“Right or wrong, racing made me a miserable person 90% of the time,” Earnhardt confessed. “And him too. I mean, ask Kyle Busch, ask anybody—unless you’re winning, you’re not happy.”
For these elite drivers, the sport is a relentless grind. A podium finish might bring temporary relief, but anything short of victory is often a source of frustration. The immense effort poured into preparation and execution rarely feels like it pays off unless the checkered flag is theirs.
Earnhardt highlighted the mental toll of falling short, explaining how the relentless focus on winning can overshadow the joy of simply competing. Even a solid performance feels hollow compared to the euphoria of a win.
“Unless you’re winning, you’re not happy at all,” he said. “You’re okay with a good run, but for the most part, all the effort it takes just to run good—it doesn’t weigh out.”
For drivers, the stakes are sky-high every week. Sponsors, fans, and teams demand nothing less than excellence, leaving little room for error or personal satisfaction in anything less than a dominant performance.
Earnhardt also shared insights into his friendship with Martin Truex Jr., who recently announced his retirement. While the two often spend time hunting together during NASCAR’s off-season, Earnhardt noted that the stress of racing even creeps into their leisure activities.
“When I’m with him during hunting season, it’s always in the back of his mind,” Earnhardt said. “It’s that stressful part of the year when he’s as miserable as he’s going to be.”
Now, with Truex stepping away from the track, Earnhardt looks forward to seeing a lighter, happier version of his long-time friend. Without the weight of weekly competition hanging over him, Truex might finally be able to relax and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle he cherishes.
“It’ll be fun to see him loosen up,” Earnhardt added.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
