23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin has been vocal on social media, slamming critics of the federal anti-trust lawsuit filed by his team and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) against NASCAR and the France family, who own the series. The lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the ongoing “charter wars,” as both teams accuse NASCAR of monopolistic practices, claiming they are fighting for a fairer charter deal for all teams.
The lawsuit has generated divided opinions within the NASCAR community. Some have supported the legal action, while others, including former crew chief Larry McReynolds, have been critical. McReynolds and other NASCAR loyalists have argued against 23XI’s decision to pursue legal action, questioning the legitimacy of their claims.
Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing, has not shied away from addressing the backlash. He recently took aim at SiriusXM NASCAR’s Channel 90, accusing them of censorship after an interview with 23XI-FRM attorney Nicholas Kessler. Hamlin claimed that SiriusXM’s coverage was biased in favor of NASCAR and that the interview, which allegedly didn’t align with their narrative, was edited or deleted.
In a scathing social media post, Hamlin wrote:
“While censorship is a big topic in today’s media world, Channel 90 might be the poster child. An interview didn’t go the way they hoped after our attorney continued to state fact after fact even though they tried their best to refute it. They have since edited/deleted that interview off their channels because the narrative doesn’t fit their beliefs. If that doesn’t convince you of the bias, then nothing will.”
The lawsuit itself raises serious accusations, with 23XI and FRM pointing to the introduction of the Next-Gen cars as a major issue. They argue that the spec cars, introduced under the guise of cost-cutting, have actually limited teams’ flexibility and forced them to stay locked into NASCAR. According to the lawsuit, teams are spending approximately $3 million annually per car on parts alone, and they are prohibited from using these cars in other racing series, a point that underscores the teams’ frustrations.
One of the most significant allegations is that NASCAR’s rules around the Next-Gen cars are exclusionary and prevent teams from exploring alternative series, while simultaneously driving up costs, which they claim contradicts NASCAR’s stated goal of lowering team expenses.
“In reality, this change is an exclusionary requirement which locks premier stock car racing teams even further into NASCAR, makes switching to any competitive racing series even more difficult, and ultimately increases costs on racing teams,” reads part of the lawsuit.
As the legal battle unfolds, Hamlin remains determined to call out what he sees as biased media coverage and ensure that his team’s voice is heard. The lawsuit promises to shake up NASCAR’s ecosystem, and with allegations piling up, the case has the potential to set a new precedent in the sport. How NASCAR will respond, and whether the sport’s governance will change, remains to be seen, but the fight between 23XI/FRM and NASCAR is far from over.
