Denny Hamlin talks NASCAR lawsuit developments, back-to-back DNFs
Denny Hamlin's focus is clear, figure out a way to get his season back on track after back-to-back DNFs while also monitoring the progress of an antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR.
On May 9 the Associated Press reported a three-judge federal appellate panel indicated it might overturn an injunction that allows 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to race as chartered teams while the lawsuit is pending. NBA legend Michael Jordan and Hamlin are co-owners of 23XI Racing.
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When asked for his interpretation of the development with the appellate judges, Hamlin said, "It's so hard to say. Obviously, we had an injunction that allowed us to remain a chartered team while the lawsuit is going on. Judges had a lot of questions, which typically, appeals judges do ask a lot of questions. Until they make a ruling it's just to hard to speculate."
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Hamlin, 44, did not attend the hearing, but said he stays informed about the lawsuit while competing in his 20th NASCAR Cup Season.
"I do my best, I'm updated on it; I talk to the attorneys daily, weekly about the updates," Hamlin said. "We're obviously going through the discovery process right now. We've got a trial set for December, which we're very much looking forward to."
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The two teams filed the lawsuit against the governing race body on Oct. 2, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. It accuses NASCAR of pressuring teams into long-term charter agreements. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only charter-holding teams to reject the new agreement.
A reversal of the injunction would take away the starting spots 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have guaranteed. Without a charter status the teams would have to compete as open entries without being assured of race-day positions.
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"I think that everything is fine on my end because we've got a team of people working on this," Hamlin said. "It allows me to focus on my job, which is doing the best I can to drive the 11 car and run 23XI Racing. That's what I've been doing and it's worked well. Obviously, the results show that."
Hamlin wins back-to-back on the track
The positive results were certainly there early in the season. For the first time since 2012 Hamlin won back-to-back races (Martinsville and Darlington) and followed that up with a second-place finish at Bristol. He also had a second-place finish at Phoenix.
And he will be racing at Nashville Superspeedway on June 1 in the Cracker Barrel 400.
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However, Hamlin got blocked by Ross Chastain at Talladega three weeks ago and finished 21st. It only got worse after that when Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota burst into flames near the end of Stage 1 at Texas and then a clutch issue ended his day at Kansas on May 11.
"I only can control what I can control and when you have two consecutive DNFs that puts a hamper on that," Hamlin said. "I can only live week-to-week and focus on winning the next race, which is seven days down the line."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR All-Star race: Denny Hamlin talks lawsuit, two straight DNFs
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