Denny Hamlin fires back at comments from NASCAR attorney after filing new lawsuit

When it comes to the latest 23XI Racing-Front Row Motorsports lawsuit news, Denny Hamlin is warning media members to fact-check NASCAR. The 23XI team owner and Joe Gibbs Racing driver couldn’t help but make a comment today.

On Wednesday, NASCAR filed a countersuit against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. NASCAR also held its first formal media availability regarding this lawsuit. They had previously refrained from public statements and taking questions.

As pointed out by Claire B Lang, attorney Chris Yates, who represents NASCAR as a partner at Lathan & Watkins, was asked what demands the teams had made. Yates explained that teams are receiving 49% of media revenue in the charter agreement, and Curtis Polk and 23XI didn’t ever make their demands clear.

“I don’t know what they think is fair,” Yates said. “They have never explained that. I have no idea what they think the appropriate split should be.”

Yates also made other comments. He touched on whether or not other teams would join 23XI and Front Row in the lawsuit. He does not believe they will.

Denny Hamlin replied to the extended answer that Lang shared on her X/Twitter page. He had a message.

“You should have a fact checker in the room at all times,” Hamlin responded. That’s a pretty direct shot.

You should have a fact checker in the room at all times.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 6, 2025

NASCAR is countersuing 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and Curtis Polk. In the filing which was made public on Wednesday, there were demands and number figures listed.

How much did teams ask from NASCAR according to lawsuit?

If we go into the filings from Wednesday there are a couple of sections that do detail the demands from Polk, the TNC, and the RTA. So, Chris Yates might be a little off-base with his comments.

In paragraph 53, NASCAR’s attorneys write, “In June 2022, the TNC, led by Polk, presented NASCAR its initial proposal and represented that the proposal had been agreed upon by all 16 teams holding 36 Charters at the time.” That came with a footnote annotation that read further.

“These demands included: (1) $720 million annual payment to teams; (2) 33% of all new revenue sources that include team rights; (3) 33% of media increases: (4) permanent charters; (5) a change of control provision; (6) additional approval rights on material issues such as the race schedule, moves toward electrification, and new industry initiatives.”

So, you might say, well that isn’t exactly about media revenue. Yates was talking about media revenue share about the teams. Well, further in the document, it says more.

Paragraph 69 states: “These revisions [from the TNC] involved numerous provisions in the 2025 Charter Agreement, including the Charter teams’ demand that NASCAR pay at least 42.7% of all media revenues to teams during the term of the agreement, most favored nations clauses to prevent NASCAR from negotiating for different Charter Agreement terms with new teams, and other revisions meant to insulate Charter teams from competition.”

Is that a clear demand? Or did 23XI, Front Row, and the teams not make it clear? This NASCAR lawsuit continues…