
Today, the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit came to an end. After more than a year, Denny Hamlin and his team settled with NASCAR. Hamlin, one of the owners of 23XI Racing, has been vocal throughout the legal process, even when advised not to be. He was definitely vocal today.
Hamlin has been on board with this lawsuit for over a year. The teams appeared as though they were willing to take this to the bitter end, and they were.
However, after eight days of trial, NASCAR and the teams have settled this case and ended it before a jury had a chance to deliberate.
In a more informal statement, Hamlin reacted to the settlement on social media. Hamlin posted, “Standing up isn’t easy, but progress never comes from staying silent. The reward is in knowing you changed something.”
Standing up isn’t easy, but progress never comes from staying silent. The reward is in knowing you changed something.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) December 11, 2025
Hamlin had more of a standard and formal statement about the matter as well. 23XI Racing’s attorneys released multiple statements from those involved in team leadership.
“I’ve cared deeply about the sport of NASCAR my entire life. Racing is all I’ve ever known, and this sport shaped who I am,” Hamlin said. “That’s why we were willing to shoulder the challenges that came with taking this stand. We believed it was worth fighting for a stronger and more sustainable future for everyone in the industry. Teams, drivers, and partners will now have the stability and opportunity they deserve. Our commitment to the fans and to the entire NASCAR community has never been stronger. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and now it is time to move forward together and build the stronger future this sport deserves.”
This is a monumental case. Even if it didn’t go to the jury and judge to determine the remedies at hand, the teams were able to land concessions from NASCAR that seemed impossible over the last four years of negotiations and litigation.
Now, there are permanent charters, and that’s partly thanks to Denny Hamlin. There could be other major changes for teams in the charter agreement as well. So, what happens now? While the case has been settled, there are loose ends that have to be tied up. The rest of the teams will also have to sign the new charter agreement with these new provisions in it.
Even though other teams didn’t join the lawsuit, 23XI and Front Row have fought for the entire team ownership group. Just by securing permanent charters, we could see the value of teams and those charters skyrocket in the next year. Legacy Motor Club’s purchase of the Rick Ware charter for around $40 million will look like a steal soon enough.
When the pressure is the highest, did anyone think Michael Jordan was going to turn the ball over and lose? The GOAT did what the GOAT does best — win. Now, Denny Hamlin might have something greater than any championship. Even if this is a settlement, make no mistake that the teams came out on top in this one.
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