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The NASCAR rumor mill never sleeps. Just two days ago, NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi posted an exclusive piece announcing that a settlement could be closer than expected in the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit. The two parties have been added for a year now, and as the December 1 trial approaches faster than expected, the judge, NASCAR, and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports are going full throttle in their efforts to win the case. And now, to calm those turbulent claims, 23XI Racing’s co-owner, Denny Hamlin, is here to break the news of what has actually been going on behind the scenes. As the 44-year-old prepares for the most important race for the championship finale at Phoenix, Hamlin closed out the rumors with sharp answers. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Denny Hamlin delivers the brutal truth behind alleged settlement talks Speaking to Bob Pockrass, Denny was asked, “About some movement and lawsuits and more settlement stuff, I’m curious — do you get updates this week, or do you ask to be left alone this week?” Denny replied, “No, I always get updates about everything, but mostly that stuff was all through the media and not actual dialogue.” Bob then followed up, asking, “So there’s nothing close?” Denny simply responded, “No.” The rumors had suggested that during the recent two-day settlement conference in Charlotte, NASCAR and the teams came closer than ever to resolving their long-standing standoff over the charter system. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad The meeting, reportedly initiated by NASCAR itself, had a far more cooperative tone than the tense, court-ordered arbitration held in August, and was believed to be mainly about shaping an “evergreen” charter system. But that is not the case. Under the supervision of Judge Kenneth Bell and mediator Jeffrey Mishkin, NASCAR and the teams met for a two-day settlement conference on October 21 and 22 to avoid a December trial in their antitrust dispute. The talks ended without an agreement, leaving two key disputes unresolved. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports One is NASCAR’s request for a ruling in its favor, and the other is the team’s argument that the relevant market should be defined specifically as premier stock car racing. And then on October 23, both sides presented oral arguments as the court made summary judgment in the ongoing NASCAR antitrust case. And now, as Judge Bell dissolved NASCAR’s summary judgment, it was a small win for 23XI Racing. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad In response to that, NASCAR released a statement saying, “We respect the Court’s decision, though we respectfully disagree with its legal reasoning. Our priority remains resolving this matter quickly so all parties can focus on Championship weekend and continuing to grow the sport. Should a resolution not be reached, we intend to appeal the decision at the appropriate time.” The court recently dismissed NASCAR’s counterclaim in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, ruling that the teams’ collective negotiations over new charters did not amount to illegal collusion. Judge Kenneth Bell determined that their actions reflected reasonable business conduct rather than an antitrust violation. In response, NASCAR stated that while it respected the court’s decision, it disagreed with the legal reasoning and hinted at a possible appeal if no settlement is reached. Amid this legal backdrop, Denny Hamlin addressed the situation last weekend when asked about the lawsuit mediation conferences, saying, “It was OK, the first day, not great, the second day. I don’t know. It didn’t end in any resolution, unfortunately.” Shortly after, reporter Dustin Bianchi clarified on X that Hamlin confirmed “there’s nothing close” regarding a settlement between NASCAR and 23XI/Front Row. With that, the rumors of a potential resolution have cooled — yet a new concern has now emerged, keeping tensions within the sport high. NASCAR may be in deep water as financial records go public As of Wednesday, several documents on the NASCAR lawsuit have been unsealed, revealing detailed financial records from NASCAR and multiple series teams. According to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, the newly released files show NASCAR earned over $100 million in net income last year and an impressive $536.6 million in 2023, mainly due to the Auto Club Speedway land sale. Documents also disclose that teams receive a base payout of $141,000 per race with limited increases unless they perform competitively. Team financials show sharp inflation in charter costs; 23XI Racing and FRM initially paid between $2-4.7 million but later spent nearly $28-29 million on charters acquired from Stewart-Haas Racing, while Rick Ware Racing reportedly sold one to Legacy Motor Club for $45 million in 2025, while one lost more than $10 million, underscoring the escalating cost of competition. These numbers may seem like a lot, but they highlight the growing concern over the sport’s financial health. Despite the next-gen car being introduced to lower expenses, the operating costs are of only reason, leaving many teams struggling to break even. With the case now heading toward either settlement or trial, the revelations are putting additional pressure on both NASCAR and its teams to reach a resolution.
