“This isn’t the 1960s and these predatory practices will not withstand scrutiny and be accepted in 2024.” 23XI Racing stays loyal to its old demands, even as the traditionalist officials unleashed a predatory tactic. The charter debacle reached an impasse last week when NASCAR gave race teams an ultimatum – either sign their terms or risk losing a 2025 seat. Yet Denny Hamlin‘s fold is not one to bend under this pressure.

Being the most vocal protester against the inequitable charter model, Hamlin has barely shifted his views. Even when his and Michael Jordan’s legacy faces the worst fate, he is prepared to go against the authorities. So guess what Hamlin did? He reiterated 23XI’s stance.

Denny Hamlin is not budging

The Quaker State 400 race did not fare well for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. Denny Hamlin toed his superspeedway chances carefully, and his bizarre strategy ultimately led to a wreck at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite freshly tasting failure, the veteran racer has not shifted gears on his ideological front. 23XI Racing recently refused to sign NASCAR’s revamped charter deal, which lacks factors crucial to teams’ economic health. Curtis Polk handled some media questions, quoting the tremendous battle ahead: “We are David facing Goliath.”

Yet the magnitude of the fight is not one to deter Denny Hamlin. In a recent episode of ‘Actions Detrimental’, the team owner kept up a mum attitude about the situation. Hamlin just sanctioned the earlier statements: “I’m really not going to comment a whole lot further than what I said in my media availability, which is a whole lot of nothing. You know, just because this is a serious situation, obviously…I think the statement that 23XI put out, that kind of accurately summed it all up.”

Besides NASCAR ignoring major issues (which were not specified), Polk observed the nonchalance. From refusing to acknowledge broad team requests to suddenly dropping a bomb ultimatum, the sanctioning body has been draconian. That is what Denny Hamlin stressed: “I think Curtis Polk had a few media members asking questions yesterday, which he answered that I would just echo those statements. Yeah, it’s certainly an unfortunate situation. You know, we were just put under a crazy timeline there, just thought was not appropriate. And we decided to kind of stand up that this is not right.” 

As the situation gets gnarlier, 23XI Racing may be facing a dire fate soon. And that is what intrigued some NASCAR experts.

No 23XI in 2025?

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Well, Jim France being a bit of a traditionalist, may not abandon his 1960s temperament entirely. NASCAR has wholly been under the care of the France family for ages, as they owned the tracks and the executive body for calling the shots. Yet 23XI Racing’s Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin may be the perfect match for them. Both are known for their recalcitrant attitudes, a similarity that initially struck their friendship. So experts are worried that this impasse may not have an agreeable solution. We may see 23XI Racing, a stellar Cup Series team, wrapping up next year as Hamlin would not back out from snapping ties with the series.

Journalist Jordan Bianchi quipped recently that the standoff is interesting: “You also have another side, in Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk, who are very much used to getting things they want, and doing things their way. So, it’s going to be interesting.” Bianchi further slipped the most feared possibility: “I wish I had the answer to this because you know, this isn’t public record… if the charter agreement says, like, if the contract ends on Dec. 31, 2024, and there’s no more charter agreement, it disappears… They could just let them expire.”

Evidently, things are bitter right now between 23XI and NASCAR. It may need a very flexible agreement for Denny Hamlin to bend, although NASCAR does not seem like one to yield either.