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The NASCAR lawsuit has already produced enough drama to last an entire racing season. From inflammatory text messages to leaked organizational papers, each disclosure has revealed another facet of the high-stakes business surrounding the sport. In August, the public received a rare glimpse into what really goes on behind the polished press releases. These included messages like Steve O’Donnell’s now-infamous “f— the teams” statement and even a heated email from Michael Jordan himself, in which he screamed about other owners. More materials are now open to the public. One such exhibit is an internal email from 23XI’s financial wing that appears to criticize Denny Hamlin’s business strategy, providing an unvarnished glimpse of the team’s internal issues amidst the legal upheaval. ADVERTISEMENT NASCAR lawsuit: MJ’s CFO’s scathing remarks on Hamlin Amid the ongoing NASCAR lawsuit, an email from the CFO of Michael Jordan’s business arm offers a surprisingly blunt assessment of the veteran driver and co-owner: Denny Hamlin. The email alleges that Hamlin, who has spent more than 20 years in NASCAR, “does not know as much as he thinks he does about race strategy and the other nuts and bolts of racing.” Overall, the message divides Hamlin’s qualities into positives and negatives. While not much is written in the positive section, it states that “Denny is a great driver, one of the best of all time. He is completely driven for 23XI to succeed. He knows more about how to prepare to drive a race and how to execute almost any other driver.” However, this is all there is to Denny’s positive side. The email then talks about the negatives in length. Firstly, it criticizes Hamlin for “regurgitating what Chris Gabehart says as if it were gospel,” referencing his long-time collaboration with the respected crew chief. Most notably, the email questions Hamlin’s financial leadership. “He is a terrible businessman. He ascribes to the dumb theory that if spend more money, it will tannate into wins and speed,” the email read. ADVERTISEMENT The CFO claims Hamlin’s “money is no object” mindset often leads to unnecessary expenditures. And this forces others within the organization to rein in his enthusiasm. Moreover, the email also touches on Hamlin’s interactions with Curtis Polk, Michael Jordan’s representative since 1989. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports The email notes that when Polk or the CFO disagrees with Hamlin, he accuses them of “not valuing him,” though the email insists this is “very far from the truth.” Lastly, the email outlines how, due to Hamlin’s behavior, they “had to have the meeting at the Grove during the sponsor summit last year” as “His is the only position that matters.” With the December 1 trial date looming for the NASCAR lawsuit, more revealing messages like this one are expected to emerge. ADVERTISEMENT Jordan and co. hit back at Roger Penske and Rick Hendrick In the midst of an increasing legal battle over planned depositions in the NASCAR lawsuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have responded strongly to Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske. The two senior team owners were added late to the witness list for the December 2025 trial, startling 23XI and FRM. When previously asked if Hendrick or Penske would testify, 23XI and FRM were told “no.” Following their inclusion, 23XI and Front Row proceeded to compel Hendrick and Penske to provide comprehensive depositions. They demanded clarity on crucial issues like as the NASCAR charter structure, 2025 charter renewal negotiations, team economics, and the NextGen program. Hendrick and Penske have pushed back. They have requested that the court protect them by limiting the scope of their testimony to “non-confidential matters” already included in previous declarations. The two team owners are opposing in-person depositions in favor of Zoom conversations. ADVERTISEMENT However, 23XI and Front Row counter that Hendrick and Penske’s confidentiality concerns cannot justify avoiding cross-examination on relevant subjects. “Mr. Hendrick and Mr. Penske’s confidentiality concerns about their team financial information cannot justify preventing Plaintiffs from cross-examining them in open court on a plainly relevant topic. If they have a proper basis to move to seal any of this information, they may do so subject to the strict requirements that the Court applies in considering such a motion.” Moreover, Jordan and co. have accused NASCAR of “sandbagging” by not disclosing their inclusion on the witness list sooner, forcing last-minute adjustments. The NASCAR lawsuit highlights the boiling high tension between emerging teams challenging NASCAR’s business practices. With the trial looming, the court’s decision on deposition terms could significantly influence the antitrust case’s trajectory and shed light on NASCAR’s internal economics and team dynamics.
