“It’s all TBD”: Denny Hamlin delivers concerning revelation on 23XI’s 2025 NASCAR future amid lawsuit setback

Denny Hamlin discussed the possibility of 23XI Racing not making it to the NASCAR Cup Series field in the 2025 season. He mentioned that their participation in the season is to be decided.

Earlier this season, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports took legal action against NASCAR in an anti-trust lawsuit, mentioning the sport's alleged monopolistic attitude towards the teams. This began with the Charter negotiations when the teams did not sign the new contract as they wanted some changes in it, however, NASCAR gave them a deadline to sign it. FRM and 23XI were still the teams who did not sign it past the deadline.

The lawsuit's initial hearings took place earlier this month. Addressing it and 23XI's participation in the 2024 season, Denny Hamlin, who races with Joe Gibbs Racing, mentioned that it has not yet been decided.

"The first part is, we’re obviously pleased with the ruling that the judge sees merits in the case," Hamlin told the media at Phoenix. "He’s going to move forward to expedite it and expedite the discovery side of it, which is a reverse from what he had before. 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."

When asked by the media if 23XI Racing's charters will be present in 2025, he said:

"I think it’s all TBD. There’s certain things that we’re going to have to navigate so I hope so."

Denny Hamlin is the co-owner of the team alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. The team has been racing in the Cup Series since the 2021 season. They have also managed to bring seven race wins in this time period. Hamlin's experience in racing has also helped him develop the team, however, he has yet to win the Cup Series championship.

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Denny Hamlin optimistic of winning the Cup Series championship in the future

Hamlin has marked his presence on the NASCAR grid since the 2005 season. Being a part of Joe Gibbs Racing all his career, he remained competitive and qualified for the playoffs multiple times. However, he has never won the championship.

He looked strong this season too, however, a fifth-place finish in Martinsville kept him away from the Championship 4. But Denny Hamlin still sounds positive as he discussed the chances of winning the championship in the future on the Actions Detrimental podcast. He said:

"That is a million-dollar question and I believe that there is a day where the light switch turns off, but I still feel as though I'm just way too competitive to ever race when I don't think I can win. I will not go out of this sport on a downhill fall. I have too much pride for that. I'm way too competitive for that. I want to know that I have the ability to win my final race whenever that might be, and I still feel as though I can go to the racetrack and dominate any given week. So until that changes, no I still feel like I can win." [56:30]

Denny Hamlin will continue to race in the Toyota with Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2025 season as well.