Denny Hamlin calls 2025 Charter Agreement 'death certificate' in NASCAR antitrust trial

The first two days of the NASCAR antitrust trial have been defined by Denny Hamlin and his testimony in direct and cross-examination. Hamlin was asked about finances, his career, business dealings at 23XI Racing, and more.

During cross-examination, Denny Hamlin seemed to have a back-and-forth with NASCAR’s legal counsel. When asked about the 2025 Charter Agreement and why 23XI didn’t sign it, Hamlin responded in kind. In usual Hamlin fashion, he didn’t pull back.

“I didn’t sign because I knew this was my death certificate for the future,” Hamlin said, via Dustin Long of NBC Sports. “I have spent 20 years trying to make this sport grow sa a driver and for the last five years as a team owner. 23XI is doing our part. You can’t have someone treat you this unfairly and I knew it wasn’t right. They were wrong and someone needed to be held accountable.”

Denny Hamlin mentioned the aggressive deadline that NASCAR gave the teams to sign the charter agreement. 23XI Racing responded in kind with a letter to the sanctioning body. In that letter, the team made eight points that it felt needed to be changed/made. NASCAR responded by saying “negotiations are closed.” Then, of course, we get the start of the lawsuit.

This is a contentious situation. Both sides have deep, personal feelings about the other, and none of it seems good. With emotions running high, we are sure to get more harsh words.

Denny Hamlin responds when asked about pro NASCAR coverage

There were times before the lawsuit began when Denny Hamlin appeared content with the direction NASCAR was heading. While he likely felt positive about certain aspects of the sport, Hamlin says he knew to toe the line. If he didn’t praise NASCAR in public and the media, he would get a “lashing.”

Hamlin was specifically asked about an appearance in July of 2024 on the Kenny Conversation. In that podcast with Kenny Wallace, Hamlin said good things about NASCAR. He said the Next Gen was a “net positive” and new races like Chicago and Mexico City were good moves.

Of course, those statements could come with a number of exceptions. Hamlin has made it clear he doesn’t like that race teams incur the costs of these new events, at home and internationally. Teams had to fork over the money to make it to Mexico City, and they get no say in the matter.

“Because if I say anything bad, I get a lashing from NASCAR. So, publicly, it’s all sunshine and rainbows,” Hamlin said, via Joseph Srigley of Racing America.

NASCAR tried to make it seem as if Denny Hamlin was inconsistent in his NASCAR bashing. We will see if it has any effect on the jury.