Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan scored a huge win in their ongoing legal dispute against NASCAR. After being denied a motion for the preliminary injunction, the two team owners from 23XI Racing and FRM refiled the motion. This time around they came prepared to justify irreparable harm to their teams; they were able to convince U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell about the need for them to have chartered team status in 2025.

Hamlin and 23XI Racing were on the back foot after their initial request for discovery and injunction motion was denied. But the pendulum has swung back in the team’s favor and has left NASCAR perplexed. The ball is in NASCAR’s court, and as expected, they are going to appeal this injunction ruling. Now we all know Denny Hamlin has been outspoken about his difference with the France family over the court case. And he was back to his usual shenanigans, aiming a dig at them for trying to expedite the court hearing.

Denny Hamlin claps back at NASCAR

The preliminary injunction ruling doesn’t mean that the two teams, 23XI and FRM, have won their antitrust case against NASCAR. This was rather a necessity for the two teams, as after 31 December, they didn’t have an agreement with NASCAR to run as chartered teams in 2025. They wanted to secure the future of their drivers, sponsors, and team members, which would allow them to focus on the antitrust case next year.

NASCAR’s initial plan was to try to delay the proceedings, as it would only pile more pressure on the teams. This was evident from last month’s scenario where 23XI Racing and FRM asked the court to hear their appeals during the Thanksgiving break. But now that the tables have turned, and the team has secured an injunction, NASCAR is the one who wants to fast-track the process. The sanctioning body wants to have a hearing as soon as Friday.

This would mean that the attorneys would have to work during the Christmas break. NASCAR certainly is backtracking from its own tactics, but Denny Hamlin wasn’t going to let this slide easily. Taking to Instagram, Hamlin shared the screenshot of the article from Sportico that stated, “There’s some irony with NASCAR’s demand that the attorneys work as a major holiday, Christmas, nears. In November, NASCAR objected to 23XI Racing’s and Front Row’s proposed scheduling that would have required working during the Thanksgiving break.”

NASCAR not only lost control of the legal dispute, but they have also lost control over the two Stewart Haas Racing charters. The court also stated that the two teams would be allowed to field the third entry they acquired from the now-defunct SHR team. Well, the hypocritical stance didn’t end at the early appeal for hearing; rather, the sanctioning body is now stating that they will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction isn’t stalled.

NASCAR goes on the defense in a bid to revoke the injunction ruling

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NASCAR’s Setback Against Michael Jordan Could Potentially Open the Gates for Other Teams to Follow Suit

All along, NASCAR didn’t want 23XI Racing and FRM to enjoy the benefits of a chartered team. Imagine being in a position where a team rejected signing an agreement and filed a lawsuit to gain more leverage; this is how NASCAR is feeling right now. They made bold claims to plan the 2025 Cup Series season with 32 chartered, but the dynamics have changed after the court’s ruling.

Responding to the ruling, the sanctioning body is arguing that sponsors and drivers have an opt-out clause that can be activated if the team has no charter. Thus, this nullified the scenario where 23XI Racing and FRM faced irreparable harm. There were reports that both Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace were exploring options given their team’s legal dispute against the sanctioning body.

NASCAR is worried about being tied to a long-term deal with the teams with this injunction. Moreover, without a stay order, they will have to open their books, which could prove detrimental to their case while defending an antitrust lawsuit. Painting a picture of a doomsday scenario where they would face irreparable harm, NASCAR replied, “On top of that, this Court’s order permitting Plaintiffs to race under the 2025 Charter terms will inflict irreparable harm on NASCAR. For example, it requires NASCAR to disclose confidential information to plaintiffs—an action that is inherently irreparable.”

In other words, NASCAR is open to providing the two teams with financial aid if they prevail in the antitrust case. But Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan wouldn’t entertain such a deal now that they have the injunction.