23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust lawsuit filed against NASCAR over a year ago, and while the lead-up to the trial had plenty of revelations, the nine-day trial also had its fair share of breaking news. Here are five unforgettable things we learned from the 23XI/FRM and NASCAR antitrust trial.
What’s Happening? The 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit will continue for some time. However, many developments will occur along…
On day one of the trial, 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin came out swinging right out of the gate, accusing NASCAR of being the reason that Germain Racing, which operated a Cup Series team from 2009 to 2020, went out of business.
Hamlin alleged that NASCAR, as part of its Premier Partners program, which the sport introduced in 2020 to replace its then-departed title sponsor Monster Energy, brought on GEICO, taking the long-time sponsor partner away from Germain.
What’s Happening? During the first day of 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR’s antitrust trial, 23XI Racing co-owner and NASCAR veteran…
During his cross-examination of Hamlin, NASCAR’s lawyer asked Denny Hamlin about a text message he sent to 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan. In this text from 2023, Hamlin asked Jordan to find a buyer for his portion of 23XI.
While Hamlin did not, and has not, sold any portion of 23XI, the owner/driver claims this during a period of frustration and needed to get the attention of his business partners. Hamlin also says he and his fellow co-owners resolved this issue in a meeting at Jordan’s golf course, The Grove XXIII.
What’s Happening? During a multi-hour cross-examination of 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, NASCAR’s legal team revealed messages suggesting that in 2023,…
Every NASCAR fan knows the tragic story of Furniture Row Racing, which, after winning the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, closed its operation at the end of the 2018 season. Prior to this lawsuit, it was widely known, but unconfirmed by the sport or parties involved, that their closure was for financial reasons related to an increased alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Shockingly, during this trial, NASCAR’s legal team accused JGR of being the reason FRR closed its door, with attorney Lawrence Buterman alleging the team doubled the price of the partnership after their title win on Monday. Even more shocking was the testimony of NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, who claimed that JGR didn’t just double the price, but tripled it from roughly $3 million to $10 million.
What’s Happening? NASCAR’s legal team claims that one specific factor contributed to the closure of the fan favorite team, Furniture Row…
Though many were excited for Richard Childress to take the witness stand, the resulting testimony and examination did not mention the hot-button issue of comments made by NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps in text messages unsealed by the courts.
But that doesn’t mean his time in the courtroom wasn’t without fireworks, as the court revealed that Childress only owns 60% of RCR and that NASCAR was aware of a group led by former driver Bobby Hillin Jr., who had attempted to buy RCR.
This questioning led to an “animated” response from Childress, who said that the deal had fallen through and was confused how NASCAR had known this due to an NDA he had Hillin and members of the interested party sign prior to negotiations.
What’s Happening? During a heated portion of Richard Childress’s examination in the ongoing NASCAR antitrust trial, NASCAR’s attorney revealed that Childress…
During the examination of NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawyer Jeffery Kessler read a letter sent by team owner Rick Hendrick to France in early 2024.
In this letter, Hendrick asked France to consider “a Charter agreement that’s fair and ensures a collaborative and prosperous structure for NASCAR, its stakeholders and the industry as a whole.“
Hendrick also made two specific claims in his letter.
First, he claimed that NASCAR had told teams, “bring no value, our rights are worthless, and we don’t know how to run a viable business.” Second, he claimed that despite success on track, including two Championships, the team had lost tens of millions of dollars over the prior five seasons.
While Hendrick’s in-profitability, like several other revelations in the trial, was no secret, the fact that one of the sport’s most successful and perhaps most popular teams lost $20 million over five seasons astounded the NASCAR fan base.
What’s Happening? During the Tuesday afternoon examination of NASCAR CEO Jim France, 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports lawyer Jeffery Kessler presented…
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