NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick recently shared his perspective on 23XI Racing’s ongoing protest against the latest Charter Agreement. Harvick, known for his candid opinions, essentially believes that the protest “doesn’t matter” now that every other team has signed the deal. From his viewpoint, the situation has shifted dramatically for 23XI Racing’s co-owner Denny Hamlin.
The Charter Agreement is a crucial component of NASCAR’s business structure, governing how teams operate within the sport, including revenue sharing and costs related to running a team. In the lead-up to the 2025 season, many team owners voiced their dissatisfaction with the terms presented, particularly concerning their share of the revenue. With rising costs to maintain charters, several teams believed they deserved a larger cut of the pie. However, despite their initial concerns, all teams eventually signed the agreement—except for one: 23XI Racing, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan.
In the days following the deadline to sign, 23XI Racing issued a statement explaining why they chose not to comply with the timeline. The team argued that they hadn’t been given a fair chance to negotiate the terms with NASCAR, leading them to withhold their signature. This move has sparked conversations within the NASCAR community about what the protest means for the team and the sport at large.
But Harvick isn’t particularly convinced that 23XI Racing’s stance will have much impact. On his podcast, he bluntly stated that the protest seems ineffective now that every other team has agreed to the deal. For Harvick, the focus has shifted from the charters themselves to what 23XI Racing will do moving forward. He expressed that, given how the situation has unfolded, the burden is now on Hamlin and his team to answer for their decision.
“There’s more questions now,” Harvick said during his podcast, “You’re going to have to answer questions about how you raced. You’re going to have to answer questions about your Charter.” He elaborated further, hinting at the scrutiny Hamlin’s team might face regarding their drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, as well as their overall future. The veteran driver made it clear that, from his perspective, the time for complaining about the charter system is over. “Because their position almost doesn’t matter now that all the other teams signed,” he remarked, adding that the situation has “flipped” onto Hamlin, suggesting that 23XI Racing’s protest may have backfired in some ways.
The tension around the Charter Agreement isn’t entirely new, but 23XI Racing’s bold decision to skip the signing deadline has undoubtedly turned heads. In their public statement, the team revealed frustration with the way negotiations were handled. Hamlin, speaking on his own podcast, “Actions Detrimental,” echoed these concerns, describing the deal as “unfair.” He pointed out that 23XI Racing was not given a genuine opportunity to negotiate and felt that NASCAR had imposed the terms rather than creating a fair dialogue.
Following their decision to miss the deadline, 23XI Racing put out a formal statement, expressing that they had informed NASCAR about their grievances and felt marginalized in the negotiation process. “23XI decided not to meet a NASCAR-imposed deadline last night to sign Charter agreements for its two cars for 2025-2031,” the statement read. “23XI’s position, as stated in a letter to NASCAR, is that we did not have an opportunity to fairly bargain for a new Charter contract.”
The dispute raises questions about what will happen next for 23XI Racing. Without a signed agreement, the team could face penalties or other repercussions, though the specifics of what might unfold are unclear. What is clear, however, is that Harvick and others in the NASCAR world are watching closely to see how Hamlin and Jordan’s team will navigate this situation.
Harvick’s view that the “complaining about charters is over” hints at a growing sentiment among the NASCAR community. With most teams agreeing to the Charter Agreement, the sport may be moving toward a new era of stability in this area, but 23XI Racing’s decision to resist could lead to unforeseen consequences. Whether this stance will prompt further negotiations or put the team in a tough spot remains to be seen.
For now, the ball is firmly in Hamlin’s court. His next move, and the eventual outcome of 23XI Racing’s protest, could shape the future dynamics between NASCAR and its teams. As Harvick put it, all eyes are now on Hamlin and 23XI Racing as they decide how to handle the aftermath of their stand against the Charter Agreement.
