Tensions between NASCAR and two of its teams (23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports) are reaching a boiling point, and it all started with a rather interesting Instagram post. The two teams are embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, accusing the sport of running a monopoly through its charter system.

Now, things took an even juicier turn when NASCAR posted a picture of 2024 champion Joey Logano celebrating his win. In the image, Logano is seen lounging on a private jet, holding up a set of Monopoly cards. The caption? “The best part about winning a championship? The big payday. #NASCARPlayoffs #NASCAR.”

But here’s where it gets spicy. Denny Hamlin wasted no time reacting. On the post, he left a comment saying, “Monopoly cards. Perfect.” His comment felt more pointed than playful, especially considering the lawsuit’s main claim is that NASCAR is operating like a monopoly. It was as if Hamlin was throwing shade at the very system that’s at the heart of the teams’ legal battle.

The timing of the post didn’t go unnoticed. NASCAR, already in a legal war over the charter system, now had critics raising eyebrows. One such critic, Toby Christie, quickly jumped on the irony of the whole thing, sharing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter). “NASCAR, currently in an antitrust lawsuit against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports who have alleged the sanctioning body of being a monopoly, snapped a shot of 2024 champion Joey Logano holding Monopoly cards. That’s—a choice,” Christie pointed out, calling attention to the awkward optics.

Denny Hamlin’s comment and the critics’ reactions have only intensified the spotlight on the lawsuit. The legal battle is far from over, with the teams still pushing for a system that they believe is fairer and more competitive. But in the meantime, NASCAR’s promotion of Logano’s championship win, complete with Monopoly references, has only added fuel to the fire. The situation is only getting tougher for the two teams as NASCAR recently took action against them for not signing the charter deals.

NASCAR puts Denny Hamlin and Co in a fix

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are in a bit of a bind after a court rejected their request to get a special clause waived in their ongoing lawsuit against NASCAR. This lawsuit revolves around NASCAR’s charter system, which essentially guarantees certain teams a spot in each race—and a much bigger slice of the earnings.

The court’s decision means that, for now, both teams are uncertain about their participation in the 2025 season. They had hoped the court would allow them to keep racing under the charter agreement while their case played out, but the judge denied that request. As a result, they face the possibility of racing as “open” entries, which doesn’t guarantee them a spot in the races and would slash their earnings to less than a third of what chartered teams take home.

The prospect of running as an open team is a devastating option for Michael Jordan and Co. Apart from having to pay millions of dollars every weekend to field their car, they risk letting one of their top talents, Tyler Reddick, leave the team. Reddick has a clause in his contract that allows him to exit 23XI if they run as an open team. It will be heartbreaking for fans if the driver that carried their hopes into the Championship race left the team as a result of this lawsuit.

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, has said the team’s future is still “TBD.” He acknowledged the uncertainty, especially leading up to the championship race in Phoenix, adding that the team is still working through the details. FRM team owner Bob Jenkins has also voiced concern, claiming that the payout from racing as an open entry might not even cover the cost of showing up to the track.

While the ruling doesn’t immediately spell disaster, it leaves both teams in a precarious position. They’ve appealed, but if they’re unsuccessful, they may have to race as open entries—if there’s even space for them on the grid. There’s a silver lining in the sense that if they do race as open entries, they could potentially claim bigger damages, but only if they win the lawsuit. The Daytona 500 could be their best shot at proving that not racing under the charter system would cause “irreparable harm.”

So, right now, it’s a waiting game. If 23XI and FRM are successful in their lawsuit, they could secure more favorable terms for future seasons. Do you think that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motors will win the lawsuit? Or will the crumble under the pressure from NASCAR and lose their spot in the chartered teams for 2025?