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Kenny Wallace has shared his thoughts on the ongoing dispute between the 23XI team and NASCAR regarding the new charter agreement for the years 2025-2031. He suggested that the involvement of legal counsel is influencing Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s choice to refrain from signing the charter agreements by the deadline.
According to Wallace, this situation implies that the team will not be participating in NASCAR next year. Nevertheless, he expressed skepticism that the stock car racing organization would completely overlook the Huntersville-based team co-owned by Hamlin, potentially granting them at least two spots.
Wallace remarked, “All the other teams […] have said, ‘we’re exhausted, whatever.’ It seems to me that Michael Jordan has some lawyers advising him, and they’ve thoroughly reviewed everything” (1:58).
“Last night was the deadline; you had to sign or you were out. But I doubt they’ll actually shut down their two cup teams. Remember, Tyler Reddick was the regular season champion just last week” [2:19].
The former NASCAR driver also expressed his belief that the league is somewhat powerless despite the owners not signing the agreement, stating, “NASCAR can be upset with Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, but what can they really do? The old days are over” [7:08].
He concluded, “I’m confident that Michael Jordan’s lawyers have gone through all the details. I don’t think they’re leaving the sport” [8:09].
The 23XI team has declared that they will not sign the agreements because they were not given a fair chance to negotiate a new charter contract.
In the Cup Series, NASCAR provides 36 charters for a 40-car lineup. A charter acts like a franchise, ensuring a team’s entry into every race of the season and offering a payout based on their performance.
Reactions to 23XI’s charter dispute with NASCAR
In a formal announcement, 23XI stated that they will continue to compete at the highest level while advocating for what they consider fair governance.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the team expressed:
“At 23XI Racing, we are dedicated to competing at the highest level while firmly believing that NASCAR should operate under fair and equitable practices.”
Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI and driver for JGR, recently discussed NASCAR’s new charter agreement on his Actions Detrimental podcast. He mentioned that the team would be willing to sign “just a decent deal,” even if it wasn’t entirely fair.
Hamlin expressed, “NASCAR has its position, and the teams have theirs. We’ll have to wait and see how this unfolds in the coming weeks. It’s never been ideal; from 23XI’s viewpoint, we would settle for a reasonable deal—not even a fair one, just something acceptable. From where we stand, there’s still a long way to go.”
In the meantime, 23XI driver Bubba Wallace shared his thoughts on the ongoing charter deal impasse, calling it “frustrating.”
Wallace remarked (via Frontstretch), “It’s disheartening to see our current situation, as it directly affects my life, my career, and my future.”
Both 23XI and Front Row Motorsports are the only teams that have opted not to sign the multi-year extension agreement.
The upcoming race will take place in Atlanta, marking the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with regular season champion Tyler Reddick being the sole representative for the Huntersville-based team in the Round of 16.