The legal battle between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR has taken another dramatic turn. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan, has strongly defended Jordan’s longtime business partner, Curtis Polk, against NASCAR’s latest accusations.
In its countersuit, NASCAR claimed that Polk orchestrated a movement to pressure NASCAR into meeting financial demands. But Hamlin isn’t buying it, calling NASCAR’s statements “laughable” and insisting that Polk isn’t capable of such actions and is a well-respected figure in sports business.
The Lawsuit Between 23XI Racing and NASCAR
This legal dispute began when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, reportedly challenging the charter system and financial distribution model used by the sport’s governing body. NASCAR revealed its latest charter agreement to teams in September 2023, but 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign.
NASCAR fired back with a countersuit, stating, “Polk’s individual role was at the very center of the plot to use collusive behavior to extract more favorable commercial terms from NASCAR in the Charter negotiations.”
NASCAR appears to have singled out Polk, alleging that he sent multiple requests to NASCAR on behalf of Race Team Alliance (RTA) members to push for changes to the 2025 Charter.
Denny Hamlin Stands His Ground
Hamlin wasted no time responding. He was very surprised by the accusations and defended Polk, dismissing NASCAR’s claims as an attempt to twist the narrative on this week’s “Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin” podcast.
“Certainly, I was very surprised to hear some of the accusations that were said,” he said. Hamlin even called a statement by NASCAR chief attorney Chris Yates “laughable.”
“All I can really tell you is that I’ve been in business now with Curtis (Polk) for five years,” Hamlin stated. “He helped us build this race team into a championship-caliber team by year five, which is what our goal was.”
The outcome of this lawsuit could have a huge impact on the charter agreement and NASCAR’s financial future. If 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports succeed, the sport could see major changes in media rights policies and financial terms in the charter agreement.
For now, though, Hamlin remains locked in a battle with NASCAR, fighting for what he believes is fairness for his team and the sport.