Denny Hamlin discusses NASCAR Charter Deal, impact from Bubba Wallace extension
Denny Hamlin said Friday that nothing has changed regarding 23XI Racing’s stance on the NASCAR charter deal despite the team announcing a multiyear extension with Bubba Wallace on Wednesday.
23XI, one of two teams not to sign NASCAR’s final proposal earlier this month, plans on racing next year despite the uncertainty surrounding the charter deal.
“We’ve said we plan on racing next year no matter what. And we’re sticking to that,” Hamlin, the 23XI co-owner, said at Bristol on Friday, via Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut.
Hamlin said he reiterated to team partners at a 23XI sponsor summit earlier this week that whatever happens with the charter deal is on ownership. 23XI employees have been told they plan to race no matter what, per Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
Hamlin has been open about his frustration with how negotiations have gone over the last two years. In its statement explaining its decision not to sign, 23XI cited not having the opportunity to “fairly bargain for a new charter contract.” Teams were given just six hours to sign the contract ahead of the playoff opener at Atlanta.
Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing expanding in 2025?
Despite the charter drama, 23XI has continued to improve year by year under the leadership of Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Both Wallace and Tyler Reddick made the playoffs last year. While Wallace failed to get there this year, Reddick took home the regular season championship.
23XI has been rumored to be expanding to three full-time charters in 2025. Pockrass wrote Tuesday that Riley Herbst is the favorite to join 23XI in 2025 in a charter likely acquired from Stewart-Haas Racing. How the charter situation affects 23XI’s plans to expand remains to be seen. Hamlin said back in June he would not expand unless the charter situation improved.
“23XI is interested in getting a charter deal done,” Hamlin said. “We don’t — right now, on Jan. 1, 2025, we don’t even have a charter. So, you can’t buy or sell something that doesn’t exist in our eyes. We have two charters till the end of this year. And until we get a charter agreement done, that’s all we have. I mean, I didn’t build that facility to stay a two-car team, but it always has to make financial sense. I’m not going to put myself in a position to where I’m having to shell out millions and millions of dollars every year just to keep this thing going. I will not do that personally.
“So, it has to make financial sense. And the charter agreement needs to be better than it is certainly before I invest any more money in it.”