The ongoing legal battle pitting NASCAR against Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing started when the teams refused to sign the latest charter agreement. Since then, the case has become one of NASCAR’s most pressing matters, grabbing the spotlight with every new development.
Denny Hamlin, a co-owner of 23XI Racing, has been at the forefront of the courtroom drama but has been unable to share many details with the public. Despite the verbal embargo, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver recently gave a sneak peek into one of NASCAR’s alleged plans for the teams that resisted the charter agreements.
What Is NASCAR’s “Gold Code” and Why Does It Worry Denny Hamlin?
Last week, text chains involving all parties in the lawsuit became a major talking point, overshadowing the hype around the playoff opener in Darlington. While the leak reflected poorly on everyone involved, it also highlighted the significant opposition to NASCAR’s authority.
Apparently, the relevant authorities were already aware of this sentiment and had a contingency plan in place, just in case things went south. This was revealed on the most recent episode of the “Actions Detrimental” podcast.
During the show, co-host Jared Allen brought up NASCAR’s “Gold Code” contingency plan, prompting a worrying response from Hamlin. Without divulging too much information, the No. 11 driver revealed that it was something “that was unfortunate to see.”
He said, “I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s just not good. And it’s certainly something that was unfortunate to see. That’s all I can really say about it.”
While Hamlin kept his comments brief, Allen, who joined him in court for last week’s hearing, held nothing back. He revealed that, from his perspective, the move “seemed like a plan to eliminate the teams entirely if they didn’t sign the agreement.”
During last week’s court hearing, Judge Kenneth Bell questioned why NASCAR was not focusing on selling inactive charters instead of wanting to eliminate the charters owned by FRM and 23XI. In response, NASCAR issued a voluntary commitment, promising not to sell or lease new charters this season.
Additionally, they ensured that six open team spots would remain available, protecting the entries from 23XI and FRM.
Although the case has yet to go to trial, both teams continue their fight for survival. Judge Bell has told NASCAR that they have created an environment where it is impossible for teams to create a new, competing series. Despite it all, Hamlin remains confident that things will be much better in 2026.
