Kevin Harvick discusses “23XI’s bizarre” situation as charter agreements loom large

Former NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick commented on 23XI Racing's bizarre situation after the team, owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, announced they had not signed the charter agreement. Of the 15 Cup teams owning a charter, 13 signed the new agreement, with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports holding out.

In the latest episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick discussed Hamlin and 23XI Racing's unique situation. He found it bizarre that Joe Gibbs Racing signed the charter agreement, while Hamlin, driver of the #11 JGR Toyota, took the opposite stance for his team.

Harvick was left pondering what 23XI Racing could achieve by not signing the agreement, while the majority of teams agreed to the latest terms. He reckoned the 23XI Racing owners didn’t expect to find themselves in such a situation, with all the legacy team owners signing the charter deal.

"I don't know what it gets you at this point, 'cause everybody else has agreed. I think it's a very interesting scenario with everything that has gone on. I think from 23XI's standpoint, you're dealing with a lot of legacy owners, that've been here for a long time." Harvick said.

"Whether you are the ring leader and representing all these guys, they've all been here a long time and in the end, those guys are all going to have conversations. I think they[23XI] are in a position I don't think they expected themselves to be in," he added.

After co-host Kaitlyn Vincie said she wished to be a fly on the wall of Joe Gibbs Racing’s team meeting with Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick added:

"That's interesting. Your team that you drive for signed the charter deal. So how on the same page are you?... It's bizarre, the whole thing is bizarre," he added in a confused tone.

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Kevin Harvick elaborates on how charter drama affects team morale

The drama surrounding the charters has struck 23XI Racing at the worst time, as Tyler Reddick and team co-owner Denny Hamlin are both in the hunt for the championship. Bubba Wallace's contract negotiations are closely tied to the outcome of the charter drama, with uncertainty hovering over the team's future.

Kevin Harvick insists that the playoffs are the most stressful time of the season, and off-track distraction will spread like a "cancer" through the team. He said in the above-mentioned podcast:

"Now you got all the questions and you heard Bubba say it. It kind of puts me in a position where I don't know about my future and it's uneasy. Now it's going to spread through the shop, through the employees, unless they address it.

"They have to address that situation or it's going to spread a cancer through their shop like they've never experienced before. Absolutely worst time ever, because it's the most stressful time of the year. You have everything you've going on with the playoffs."

Kevin Harvick has already backed Denny Hamlin to win the championship this season. However, the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver had a rough start to his playoff campaign with a 24th-place result at Atlanta.