Overview
- Denny Hamlin continued as the first witness, testifying that the 2025 charter proposal would jeopardize 23XI’s future and detailing tight margins, rising costs, and reliance on sponsorship to break even.
- NASCAR executive Scott Prime returned to the stand as plaintiffs presented internal memos showing efforts to lock tracks into exclusivity to deter a potential rival series, including terms tied to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- Private communications from NASCAR leaders were shown to jurors, including notes describing “zero wins for the teams” and concerns the deal would revert the sport to a “dictatorship, redneck, Southern tiny sport.”
- Hamlin testified it costs about $20 million per car to run a season while 2025 charter payouts average $12.5 million, and he outlined 23XI’s charter buys at roughly $4.7 million, $13.5 million, and $28 million as values surged toward a reported $45 million.
- NASCAR argues teams asked for and benefited from the charter system, says payouts increased in 2025, and contends the lawsuit stems from failed negotiations rather than antitrust violations, with sweeping remedies or dire team consequences possible depending on the verdict.