There has been growing speculation about the future of 23XI Racing in NASCAR following Bubba Wallace’s recent contract extension with the team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. The uncertainty stems from the fact that 23XI Racing, along with Front Row Motorsports, opted not to sign NASCAR’s latest charter agreement. This decision has left many wondering about the team’s position moving forward, especially after NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass revealed that the fate of their charters is still undecided.
The uncertainty is significant because both Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin had previously indicated that Wallace’s contract renewal was closely tied to the outcome of the charter negotiations. NASCAR had issued the final draft of the charter agreement, with a deadline of September 6—just before the playoffs kicked off. However, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports found the terms of the deal unfavorable and decided against signing it.
As a result, the current charter agreement is set to expire at the end of this season, leaving the future of the charters owned by both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in a precarious state. NASCAR now has control over these four charters and could decide to sell them, hold onto them until the teams agree to new terms, or take other actions. Bob Pockrass, addressing fan concerns over 23XI Racing’s situation after Wallace’s contract renewal, said, “Still TBD on 23XI and Front Row charters. If they don’t sign, then TBD what NASCAR does with those charters (sell them, hold them to see if they sign, etc). They can field open cars but the payouts (at least under the current deal) are less than a third of what charter teams get.”
If the charters were to expire, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports would still be allowed to compete, but they would do so at a significant financial disadvantage. Fielding open cars without the benefits of a charter would drastically reduce their payouts, making it much harder to sustain operations over the long term.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin is facing his own challenges with playoff elimination looming. Hamlin is among the drivers on the bubble in the Round of 16 after a string of unfortunate events has put his playoff chances at risk. Mechanical problems plagued his car at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where a power issue forced him to start in P38 and finish in a disappointing P24. His luck didn’t improve at Watkins Glen, where two separate crashes further damaged his playoff hopes.
Speaking about his current position in the playoffs, Hamlin said, “I mean, certainly I don’t love where I’m at, that’s a given. But I still think if I just do the best I can tomorrow, do the best I can at Bristol, it still will work itself out. But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. My number one goal is getting to a wind tunnel, and I’ve got plenty of races to do that. So, I’m going to try to win at least two races in this playoffs, and hopefully they count towards something.”
Hamlin will enter the final race of the Round of 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway under pressure, but his track record at Bristol may provide some hope. He boasts an average finish of 13.6 at the track and has secured victories in the last two races there. However, given the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the charter negotiations and his playoff position, both his future and that of 23XI Racing remain in a delicate balance. Fans are left wondering how the team’s situation will unfold and if the charter agreement issue will impact their performance in the races to come.
