Before the NASCAR lawsuit was launched, race teams had a common demand. For 2+ years, the Race Team Alliance clamored for permanent charters for the sake of economic stability and sponsor trust. But NASCAR abruptly dropped a new charter deal with a short deadline while ignoring those demands. That is when Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin decided to go into beast mode, refusing to sign the deal and launching a lawsuit.

From the beginning, Denny Hamlin and Co. stressed that their primary goal was to improve the sport. 23XI Racing’s co-owners, Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk, professed they want to reform the sport and cut down the ‘monopolistic’ practices of the sanctioning body. However, NASCAR is now trying to prove its bad intentions for the sport, inviting a rebuttal from Hamlin.

Denny Hamlin snaps at NASCAR’s accusation

Earlier in August, U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell issued a warning to both parties in the lawsuit. In case 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports prevailed, the sport could be changed drastically. He said that charters would “look different even if the charter system survives.” This may have caused panic among existing Cup Series teams, as charters fuel their economic stability in the sport. That is why nine team owners came forward recently, demanding an urgent resolution of the lawsuit. NASCAR took this bait to accuse Denny Hamlin and Co. of trying to destroy the sport, of which other teams are afraid.

NASCAR stated in its motion for a summary judgment: “Neither greed, nor an individual’s bruised ego over his inability to deliver on some promises he made to other teams, justifies trying to destroy an institution.” This motion was in response to the teams’ filing for a summary judgment, which aims to prove that NASCAR dominates the market for premier stock car racing. Yet Denny Hamlin had a savage response lined up on social media. He posted a line by NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates: “NASCAR would be perfectly fine going back to that pre-charter model.” And Hamlin wrote, “In case you’re wondering who threatened the system.”

What is more, Michael Jordan and Co.’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, deflated NASCAR’s claims about ‘destroying’ the sport. He showed how 23XI is in the same boat as other teams and never intended to eliminate the charter system. “They have supported charters because teams cannot survive without them,” Kessler said. “The declarations from team owners and executives acknowledge this same economic reality. Nor do they excuse NASCAR’s anticompetitive conduct or its unlawful monopoly, points 23XI and Front Row have maintained from the start.”

Jeffrey Kessler is also optimistic about the recent motions for summary judgment. He said, “We are confident NASCAR’s summary judgment motion is not going to succeed. This lawsuit has always been about making NASCAR more competitive and fair for the benefit of drivers, sponsors, teams, and fans who love the sport.”

While Denny Hamlin is ferociously fighting for his team in the court, he is batting for his other team on the racetrack.

Keeping track of his allegiances

While NASCAR keeps fanning the fires of the lawsuit, Denny Hamlin is managing fires in a separate issue. In last weekend’s Cup Series playoff race in Kansas, Hamlin tangled with Bubba Wallace. The No. 11 Toyota had led for 159 laps and was not willing to concede the race lead to the No. 23 Toyota driver. In doing so, neither Hamlin nor the 23XI Racing driver could succeed. His aggression induced critical voices in the community, especially because Hamlin deprived his own team’s driver of a win. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “I just hate it because Bubba was in a good spot and did everything all day long to sort of put himself in a great spot.”

However, Denny Hamlin was adamant about his opinion. As a Joe Gibbs Racing driver, he remains loyal to Gibbs on the racetrack no matter what. Even though he defends 23XI Racing in the courtroom, he does not do so as a rival in races. “If they’re wanting an apology, they can turn [it] off now,” Hamlin said bluntly. “On Sunday, I am the driver… People expect me to be the guy with the 23XI shirt on when I’m in the No. 11 car, and that’s just not possible…My responsibility as a team owner comes Monday through Saturday. It is not up to me to get 23XI Racing into the Round of 8. That’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to get the No. 11 [team] into the Round of 8.”

Evidently, Denny Hamlin is clear about his boundaries in duties. Let’s see if his courtroom efforts for 23XI Racing result in a positive outcome or not.