Denny Hamlin calls out Larry McReynolds, SiriusXM NASCAR radio hosts

Denny Hamlin in November 2024 called out Larry McReynolds for “spreading disinformation” about the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit against NASCAR. Thirteen months later, the case is closed.

The two sides reached a settlement this past Thursday, bringing an end to the trial after nine days in court. McReynolds, the former NASCAR crew chief, hosts “On Track” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. McReynolds shared a tease on social media ahead of Tuesday’s show, and he had a visitor in his comment section. It was Hamlin, hoping to hear an apology later.

“Good morning,” Hamlin wrote on X. “Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?”

23XI and FRM in October 2024 filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France, alleging monopolistic practices. The lawsuit was filed in response to NASCAR’s “take-it-or-leave-it” Charter Agreement offer two months prior, in which 23XI and FRM were the only two Cup Series teams to not sign. At the time the lawsuit was filed, McReynolds took aim at the teams for attempting to disrupt “the way [NASCAR] has done business for 76 and a half years.”

Denny Hamlin goes after Larry McReynolds… again

“We’ve got an organization that’s been here not even four years that all of a sudden is saying, ‘We gotta change the way NASCAR’s run.’ I’m all about change. Change is what makes you better,” McReynolds said. “But you know what? When I see Richard Childress, Jake Roush, Rick Hendrick, and Joe Gibbs that’s been here longer than some of these guys have been pooping yellow… and they signed off and said this is good… we’re OK.

“There are things we don’t like about it but we’re going to do what’s best for the sport and best for our business. And they signed off on it and these people that have been either not competitive or only been here for four and a half years have been saying the way we’ve done business for 76 and a half years is wrong.”

Hamlin remembers those words well. He issued a follow-up tweet, mentioning McReynolds’ comments from over a year ago.

“I believe it was ‘How dare them for trying to come in and change the sport. 23XI hasn’t been around long enough and FRM wasn’t good enough.’ Also, how about ‘I don’t know what their problem is, 13 other teams signed it.’ Just to name a few examples,” Hamlin wrote.

The trial, while never requiring verdict from the jury, ended with the teams getting what they coveted most. NASCAR agreed to grant the teams with evergreen (permanent) charters.

The sport was changed forever from this lawsuit and subsequent trial. For Hamlin, that’s a win.

“Standing up isn’t easy, but progress never comes from staying silent,” Hamlin tweeted last Thursday. “The reward is in knowing you changed something.”