“Thank you for saving the sport”: Fans hail Denny Hamlin as 23XI owner shares power message after settling with NASCAR

Denny Hamlin shared a strong message with fans after 23XI Racing and Co. finally settled the antitrust lawsuit filed against NASCAR. Fans hailed the Cup Series driver for "standing up" for a fight against the sanctioning body.

The legal fight began after 23XI, co-owned by Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports filed antitrust claims, accusing NASCAR of monopolistic practices tied to the charter system last October. The trial, which began earlier this month, was settled on Thursday morning after eight days.

Hamlin, who made an emotional testimony on the first day of court, shared a powerful message on social media.

"Standing up isn't easy, but progress never comes from staying silent. The reward is in knowing you changed something," Denny Hamlin wrote on X.

Denny Hamlin

@dennyhamlin

Standing up isn’t easy, but progress never comes from staying silent. The reward is in knowing you changed something.

Under the settlement terms, charter agreements will move to an "evergreen" model. These charters will be long-term rather than requiring periodic renewal under restrictive conditions. Financial details of the deal were not made public, but lawyers for the teams described it as creating permanent charter rights that address the core legal issue.

The post by Hamlin prompted reactions from fans and critics alike to support his actions for reform.

"Thank you for saving the sport, Denny. Now I can go back to hating you on the racetrack!" a fan commented.

Ricky Hardin

@HardintheWall

@dennyhamlin thank you for saving the sport, Denny. Now I can go back to hating you on the racetrack!

"Good job young Denny. Honestly, I never liked your style, BUT, now, I see you're an honest stand up man, courageous because you had a lot to lose," another wrote.

"Denny went from most hated to maybe fan favorite next season," yet another shared.

Some fans also congratulated the 46-year-old, who lost the championship this season to Kyle Larson, and compared him to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt's impact on the sport.

"Denny, this is bigger than any championship. Thank you sir for standing up for us and congratulations," a fan wrote.

"You've got to be the most impactful driver in the sport since Dale Sr. On behalf of all the fans, thank you," another fan commented.

The teams claimed NASCAR's system gave uneven economic power to the sanctioning body and limited long-term security for charter holders. They sought damages of more than $300 million and argued that without charters, they would struggle financially.

Denny Hamlin has 'no doubt' the settlement will grow NASCAR

Denny Hamlin also spoke to the media after the settlement and said that he would continue to race for Joe Gibbs Racing and complete his contract, which runs through 2027. The No. 11 Toyota driver deflected on the question about the compromises the teams made in the settlement and did not offer specifics of the terms.

"Everything within the settlement is going to grow the sport and it's going to be better for everyone, there is no doubt about it," Denny Hamlin told Bob Pockrass.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have also won back their charters for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season as part of the settlement. Both teams had lost their charter status for 2025 earlier this year.