"No agreement was reached" - 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin clarifies status of lawsuit after NASCAR action
Following the announcement of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports being able to compete as open teams in the 2025 season, Denny Hamlin provided some clarification on his behalf regarding this recent news.
23XI Racing, owned by Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, and Bob Jenkins-owned FRM filed a preliminary injunction that would allow these Cup teams to retain their charter for the upcoming season while pursuing the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. However, the federal court denied the injunction which led to the two teams' appeal.
Regardless, 23XI and FRM recently released a statement from their advocate, Jeffrey Kessler, who announced the removal of a clause that refrained the teams from competing as an open team for the next season. The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi reported this news on X(formerly Twitter) and wrote:
"23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have reached an agreement with NASCAR to compete as "open" teams during the 2025 season, even while the teams' antitrust lawsuit continues."
Hamlin. the Joe Gibbs Racing driver then clarified how the decision was made.
"For clarification sake. No agreement was reached. They just removed the provision," responded Hamlin on X.
Furthermore, Kessler in his statement mentioned that the two teams would continue with their appeal to run as chartered teams.
Here's what 23XI and FRM's official statement read:
"We are pleased to announce that NASCAR has removed the anticompetitive release requirements in its open agreement, which will now allow 23XI and Front Row Motorsports to race as open teams in 2025."
"My clients will continue their appeal to the 4th Circuit to issue an injunction so they can run as chartered teams therefore avoiding irreparable harm,” Kessler added.
"It's all TBD" - Denny Hamlin not sure about 23XI Racing's future for the 2025 season
Soon after the federal judge denied 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports preliminary injunctions, Denny Hamlin opened up about the team's participation in the 2025 Daytona 500 race.
When asked about the future of the team's charter during a media availability at Phoenix, the three-time Daytona 500 winner said:
"We’re obviously pleased with the ruling that the judge sees merits in the case. He’s going to move forward to expedite it and expedite the discovery side of it,” Hamlin said. “Obviously, judging on it without prejudice and obviously giving us an opportunity to refile once the situation changes, because he knows that things will change over the next few months, obviously he understands the complexity of it and obviously understands that this situation is fluid and we obviously could see some pretty bad harm coming up." [1:50]
The 43-year-old Hamlin was asked if they would field cars in the 2025 Busch Light Clash and Daytona 500 race. Here's what he said in response:
"I think it’s all TBD. There’s certain things that we’re going to have to navigate, so I hope so." [11:00]
While the removal of the clause in the open agreement has allowed 23XI and FRM to compete and pursue the legal battle, had this move not been made, the two Cup Series teams would have been left with only two options.