Denny Hamlin took the stand once again on Tuesday morning to continue his witness testimony in an antitrust lawsuit trial against NASCAR. It was during the cross-examination session that Hamlin confirmed his salary from Joe Gibbs Racing.
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23XI Racing, the team Hamlin co-owns with Michael Jordan, joined with Front Row Motorsports in October 2024 to file an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and CEO Jim France. These two teams alleged that NASCAR operated an illegal monopoly and used anti-competitive acts to hurt the teams while simultaneously enriching the France family.
NASCAR has said that it has not hurt the teams with its actions. Its legal team has said that this is not an antitrust issue — it is a contract dispute in which 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports just want a better deal.
According to The Athletic, Lawrence E. Buterman conducted the cross-examination for NASCAR, and he took part in a rather contentious back and forth with the 23XI Racing co-owner.
While discussing the financial aspects of 23XI Racing, Hamlin noted that he makes approximately $14 million annually. Buterman indicated that this number is higher than contracts for other drivers. Hamlin noted that other drivers don't win like he does.
Driver salary information has largely remained secret since the 2016 season, the same year the charter system began. Certain numbers have come to light, but many contracts still remain private. This is no longer the case for Hamlin, who had to discuss his salary while under oath.
Hamlin's salary is not the only piece of financial data discussed during his time on the witness stand, which spanned four hours over two days. Buterman also asked Hamlin if it was fair to ask the jury for $205 million in damages. The 23XI Racing co-owner said he would leave those questions to the expert witnesses.
He and Buterman also went back and forth about the amount of Hamlin's investment into 23XI Racing, which totaled $10.7 million as of 2024. However, the veteran driver noted that he is responsible for $45 million in loans. This includes 50% of the cost of building Airspeed (the team's facility) and 40% of the costs for the team.
Buterman used this time questioning Hamlin to bring up emails from 23XI Racing co-owner Curtis Polk and Michael Jordan's chief financial officer Gene Mason, which said he "spends money recklessly." Polk and Mason also called Hamlin a "terrible businessman."
As Hamlin explained, their job is to keep him in check when it comes to spending too much money. He and Jordan just want to win.
Other old messages that surfaced during cross-examination focused on a 2023 conversation in which Hamlin told his co-owners to "buy him out" of his share of 23XI Racing. He brushed these off by explaining that he was just "kicking and screaming" to get attention. He said that he sat down with Jordan and Polk and worked out the issues.
When asked why he has made positive comments about NASCAR and the Gen 7 car in past media appearances, Hamlin said that he is just using NASCAR talking points. He added that saying anything negative will lead to retribution from the sanctioning body.
Hamlin's first day on the stand, which lasted under an hour due to time constraints, also featured some financial discussions.
He openly stated the amount of money the team spent on its three charters ($4.7 million in 2021, $13.5 million in 2022, and $28 million in 2025). The deal for the Stewart-Haas Racing actually occurred in 2024, but the Court had to rule that it could proceed in 2025 as part of the ongoing legal battle with NASCAR.
Hamlin also said that 11 of the original 19 teams with charters were no longer in the sport. He specifically pointed to Germain Racing losing its sponsor to NASCAR and exiting the sport. Geico became a NASCAR premier partner in 2020, its final season supporting Germain Racing.
"Only one side is going out of business," Hamlin said in response to a question from attorney Jeanifer Parsigian on Monday. He continued this point on Tuesday, saying that 23XI Racing is only one sponsor loss away from operating in the red (at a loss).
Hamlin also pointed back to a conversation that he had with NASCAR CEO Jim France in 2023. He said that France told him that the problem is NASCAR teams "spend too much money."
As Hamlin recalled during his testimony, France said that teams should only spend $10 million per season to field their cars. Both Hamlin and lead attorney Jeffrey Kessler said on Monday that it costs $20 million per season to field cars in the Gen 7 era and that the 2025 Charter Agreement only provides $12.5 million.
The antitrust lawsuit trial will continue on Wednesday as 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports continue bringing witnesses to the stand and presenting evidence. This trial is expected to last two full weeks.
