U.S District Judge Kenneth Bell has dismissed NASCAR's counterclaim in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Bell ruled in favour of the two teams and affirmed that they didn't illegally collude to hamper charter negotiations, but the sanctioning body begged to differ.According to NASCAR, 23XI influenced the charter deal by unifying teams during the negotiation. However, Bell noted that such practices didn't constitute 'unreasonable restraint of trade', as the governing body did have one-on-one negotiations despite the collective effort.Fox analyst Bob Pockrass shared the news on X and hinted at a possible settlement between the two parties."The judge has dismissed the NASCAR counterclaim against 23XI and Front Row that alleged they illegally conspired with teams to get a better deal in the charter agreement," he wrote.Pockrass later shared the sanctioning body's response which read:"We respect the Court's decision, though we respectfully disagree with its legal reasoning. Our priority remains resolving this matter quickly so all parties can focus on Championship weekend and continuing to grow the sport. Should a resolution not be reached, we intend to appeal the decision at the appropriate time."Mediation efforts were held last week, but both parties failed to reach a resolution. As a result, the case is on track for a December trial in front of a jury.However, the Cup Series teams and the governing body have agreed to three exceptions to their arguements, with the primary one ensuring that neither will resort to personal or ad hominem attacks.Denny Hamlin shares blunt remark on legal battle with NASCARDenny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, shared a rather stark comment on his legal dispute with NASCAR. The Joe Gibbs Racing ace spoke to the media at Martinsville and addressed the prevailing sentiment after failed settlement talks."I don't know. I think both sides probably feel strong about their case. I think you sat in the courtroom, you heard the arguments. I'll let you form your own opinion. But I think one of us is on a suicide mission," Hamlin said via X/Claire B Lang.The case going to trial will have dire consequences for both sides. If NASCAR loses, the whole structure of the charter system will be subject to an overhaul. It'll threaten the revenue model attached to it and force teams to contest as open entries, instead of competing with guaranteed spots.If 23XI and FRM lose their bid, the two teams will have to lose their charters and compete as open teams themselves, which could potentially affect driver lineup and sponsorship backing.Notably, Joe Gibbs and several team owners have openly advocated for permanent charters to ensure 'long-term viability' of the sport.