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.”
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Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, is in the running for a potential return to F1. The young racer has emerged as a late contender for a seat at Kick Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026. Led by Mattia Binotto, the team announced Mick as a candidate for their drivers’ lineup in 2025.
Speaking in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Binotto dived into details about the young driver. “We are definitely evaluating him [Mick Schumacher],” he said.
The statement is being seen as the 25-year-old’s last chance to return to the sport.
Mick has previous association with Mattia Binotto through the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Speaking about their connection, Binotto added, “I met him and spoke to him. I have known him for a long time, having been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy. I know his strengths and advantages. He is one of the names we have in mind.”
Mick, who drove for Haas during his last stint in Formula 1, was a reserve for Mercedes in the last two seasons. The driver was also in contention for a seat at Alpine after Esteban Ocon left the team for Haas. He even raced for the French manufacturer in the World Endurance Championship. However, the squad decided to go with rookie driver Jack Doohan, instead.
Audi Chief Binotto now has the young racer on the radar as he hopes to bring him back to the sport.
He discussed how the team was in no rush to make a hasty decision, especially now that most teams have already decided their line-ups. “There are two essential options: on the one hand, experience to set us on the growth path. On the other is a young, talented driver who can accompany us on the path to the top,” Binotto said.
With Sauber preparing for a full acquisition by Audi in 2026, the German carmaker looks focused on assembling a competitive team. Should Mick join Sauber, he would team up with Nico Hulkenberg, who leaves Haas at the end of the 2024 season. The 37-year-old German racer is taking one of the two seats next year.
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Carlos Sainz teased one day revealing his true thoughts on Mattia Binotto claiming he would not have signed Lewis Hamilton if still Ferrari boss.
Ahead of the F1 2024 campaign, Hamilton activated an exit clause in his Mercedes contract to engineer a blockbuster F1 2025 move to Ferrari, signing a multi-year deal. That came at the expense of Sainz, who has since agreed terms with Williams.
Carlos Sainz reacts after Binotto’s Lewis Hamilton Ferrari bombshell
At Ferrari, Hamilton reunites with his former junior series boss Fred Vasseur, who took over the reins at Maranello in 2023, after the exit of former team principal Mattia Binotto.
And Binotto has confirmed that if he were still calling the shots, Hamilton would not have got his Ferrari dream move.
Asked by Corriere della Sera if he would have signed Hamilton to Ferrari, Binotto replied: “No. But he did very well to go to Ferrari, I agree with his decision.”
Explaining his reasoning, Binotto said that Hamilton’s future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc – a part of their line-up since 2019 and a Ferrari Driver Academy graduate – should be their centrepiece for an F1 title challenge.
“Because Ferrari had set their sights on other drivers. And if the talent is Leclerc, he is the one who somehow I think should be taken to the target,” claimed Binotto.
And Sainz, speaking at the 2024 Marca Sports Weekend, was asked for his reaction to that.
“Binotto says he wouldn’t have signed Lewis?” Sainz replied.
Gathering up his thoughts, Sainz teased that he would one day share them, but this was not the time.
“I don’t get involved in that,” he said, “I’ll keep my opinion to myself and I’ll tell you my opinion over dinner one day.”
As for the Hamilton and Leclerc partnership, Sainz believes it will be a successful one for Ferrari.
“He and Leclerc are two great drivers, I’m sure they’ll have a good time,” he said.
Sainz will be joining a Williams team striving to work its way up the F1 pecking order, with F1 2026 – the year that new chassis and power unit regulations arrive – very much the goal in mind rather than next season.
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Amidst the chaos in the Cup Series playoffs, one driver has been consistently getting the results while flying under the radar. Christopher Bell has been somewhat of a dark horse in the ongoing campaign, even though he’s currently second in the championship, having secured three wins in the season so far. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has shown great consistency over the last few weeks, finishing no lower than seventh in the last four races.
Despite the attention going towards the traditional favorites such as Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, a prominent NASCAR Insider isn’t ruling out Christopher Bell as a genuine title contender if he does make it to Phoenix Raceway later this year.
He might not be in the headlines, but Christopher Bell has every reason to be optimistic about his championship hopes going into the last four races of the season. The 29-year-old has shown tremendous consistency over the last few months, having finished inside the top ten in 9 out of the last 11 races. As a result, the No. 20 Toyota Camry driver finds himself just behind Kyle Larson in the standings going into the Round of Eight. Even though Victory Lane has eluded the Oklahoma native, Bell is playing the long game, hoping to remain in contention, going into the Championship 4 race.
Highlighting his expectations from Christopher Bell, NBC Sports play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, “I don’t think enough people give enough credit to Christopher Bell. To me, he’s that quiet achiever and I love the fact that how honest he was at Kansas where he made the mistake at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 when he hit the wall, said that’s totally on me. I just think he’s the only guy who’s made the Championship 4 the last two years in succession, and I just think the time is now for him.
