Everybody knows what the Darlington highlight was, right? Chase Briscoe redeemed some of the reputation of his soon-to-dissolve team, despite breaking a few hearts. But besides the Victory Lane conversation, one off-track phenomenon stood out as well. Curtis Polk, a 23XI Racing investor, gave a savage response to NASCAR’s new charter deal gimmick. However, co-owner Denny Hamlin is mum about it.

This runs contrary to tradition, as Denny Hamlin has been the most vocal among Cup Series team owners about the soon-to-expire charter deal. As the clock ticks, things get more tense, although NASCAR did drop indications recently about settling soon. But its newest clause after the message pinned on the t-shirt has caused ripples of protest among fans.

Hacking a basic civil right?

Well, we all saw the jaw-dropping shirt that Denny Hamlin’s team insider chose to don at the regular season final race. A printed piece of paper was glued to Curtis Polk’s back, and it read: “Please don’t ask me about my Charter. I don’t want to disparage NASCAR and lose it.” 

This season, NASCAR has dropped a lot of disheartening updates, ranging from cutting down charter numbers to allowing the France family to chip in. But this time, the sanctioning body bared its teeth with a highly authoritarian clause: race teams cannot trumpet negative things about the charter agreement.

Now, talks are afoot about reaching a new charter deal agreement this week. Although sides align over the media rights revenue, other factors still maintain the rift. For example, teams’ say over costly rule changes, and of course, permanent charters remain as bones of contention.

All we can be certain about is that NASCAR is at least vocally trying to appease teams’ concerns. President Steve Phelps recently admitted to the need of the hour. “Something needs to change because if it doesn’t change in my opinion in seven years when we’re re-negotiating the financials of these charters, it’ll come back to we’re not making any money or we’re losing X, Y and Z, and you’ll always be chasing that. If there’s more money given, typically what happens is race teams want to take every dollar and then some and spend it to go fast…We have seen over the last decade teams that don’t run well, it’s hard to get sponsorship, and they’ll lose it, and will either be stolen by another team or worse yet, they’ll leave altogether, which is not in the best interest of anyone.”

Despite NASCAR’s efforts to soothe tensions, the newest controversy has brewed a storm among fans.

Stifling updates outrage fans

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Denny Hamlin may have chosen not to expand on the topic, but he gave enough hints. “They do not want you speaking negatively, that’s a new add to the charter agreement,” he said.

And of course, Curtis Polk’s glaring act of protest caught everybody’s attention at Darlington. So fans lashed out at NASCAR for its new update that chokes some hardworking race teams.

“This is terrible. I hate nascar so much sometimes (the entity not the sport, drivers and incredibly hard working employees),” a fan wrote.

Another fan questioned the unbridled greed that NASCAR’s franchise family feeds by depriving racers. “NASCAR is so dumb man. France family clinging to power. Franchises are better for EVERYONE. @stevephelps.” Somebody else underlined the authoritarian stance: “so basically “disagree with us and parish”?”

Some fans sided with 23XI Racing‘s vocal attitude about all that was going wrong with the charter deal. Michael Jordan, co-owner and NBA legend, had also emphasized that NASCAR is missing out on a lucrative future as it continues to shrug off permanent charters. So one fan noted the newest silent treatment that the team is choosing to offer. “I love the passive aggressiveness from the 23xi camp about this as of late.” 

Recently, at Darlington, Tyler Reddick won the regular season championship—so one fan forgetting the charter agreement is dumbstruck that NASCAR would stifle such a brilliant team. “Crazy that NASCAR would threaten taking a charter away from a winning team over that team talking about the negotiations with the press. Not a good look for @NASCAR.”

Evidently, Denny Hamlin and his team have set off the needed ripples of protest among fans against NASCAR’s newest clause. Although the update does not offer much hope for an agreeable deal, we can only wait and see how this story develops.