Denny Hamlin reacts to 23XI Racing and FRM registering a major win in NASCAR lawsuit

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, and Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports, have scored a major win in their ongoing antitrust lawsuit with NASCAR. The teams have been granted the preliminary injunction to keep their charters for the 2025 Cup Series season.

The standoff between 23XI Racing and FRM began in October when the team refused to sign the new charter agreement and filed a lawsuit against NASCAR's chairman Jim France accusing him of violating US antitrust laws. The Stock Car Association refused both teams to run as charter teams while pursuing the legal battle. But later, in the last hearing things settled in favor of the teams.

However, the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR will continue, and the ruling is just for the next year. Reports stated that the sections in the 2025 Charter Agreement that caused the lawsuit in the first place are not enforceable during the ongoing battle.

The preliminary injunction allows Denny Hamlin's 23XI Racing and Jenkins Front Row Motorsports to race as charted teams in the 2025 Cup Series season. Also, giving both teams the freedom to buy a charter from former Cup Series team Stewart Haas Racing.

Following the win, 23XI Racing and FRM's attorney, Jeffery Kessler, stated:

“We welcome today’s decision by Judge Bell granting a preliminary injunction in our favor. The court’s ruling allows 23XI and Front Row Motorsports to race existing cars as chartered teams in next year’s Cup Series. The decision also requires NASCAR to approve both teams’ purchases of a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing and allow these cars to also race as chartered teams in the 2025 season." (via On3.com)

Before anything was official, Denny Hamlin shared an X post and emphatically wrote:

"YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!"

Then the news broke on X and Bob Porckrass shared the details via a post on his X account. Later, Hamlin went live on air with SiriusXM NASCAR while the decision was made public and gave a two-word reaction:

"We won"

The 2025 23XI Racing line-up will feature Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and newcomer Riley Herbst. On the other hand, Front Row Motorsports will feature Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson, and their third driver is yet to be announced.

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Riley Herbst joined Denny Hamlin's co-owned team amid the ongoing legal battle with NASCAR

On November 20, 2024, Denny Hamlin's co-owned 23XI Racing announced signing former Stewart Haas Racing Xfinity Series driver Riely Herbst for the 2025 Cup Series while the team was in a charter dispute with NASCAR.

Herbst will be the third driver for the team and pilot the #35 Toyota Camry CSE for the 2025 Cup Series season alongside teammates Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. Herbst expressed his feelings about joining Hamlin's team for the next season and said:

"It‘s an honor to join 23XI and Toyota for the opportunity to race in the Cup Series each week,” Riley Herbst said in a statement. “Racing full-time in the Cup Series has been my goal since I started in NASCAR, and I‘m excited to start my Cup career with such an accomplished and driven team."

"What 23XI has accomplished in a short time is impressive and I look forward to building on their success as the organization grows. It‘s also great to continue representing Monster and I‘m excited about adding to their legacy in NASCAR," he added.

The 25-year-old will bring Monster Energy as a sponsor to 23XI Racing. With Herbst's addition, Monster Energy will sponsor a second car for the team, as they already are the primary sponsor for Tyler Reddick's car.