Denny Hamlin has spent the last two years at the center of one of NASCAR’s most heated disputes, going toe to toe with the sanctioning body and the France family in a very public legal battle. Now, as the 2026 season kicks off, the driver and 23XI Racing co-owner seems ready to put the courtroom behind him — but he isn’t letting anyone off easy.
“Yeah, hopefully. I mean, that’s the goal, and hopefully we all use it as a reset, right?” Hamlin said during media day at Bowman Gray Stadium ahead of The Clash. His words said one thing — hope — but also hinted at a more cautiously optimistic Hamlin, keeping in mind that he’s watching closely to see if NASCAR’s leaders actually follow through on their promises.
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The last two years have been pretty transformative. Hamlin teamed up with Front Row Motorsports to go head-to-head with NASCAR’s charter system — kicking off a national conversation about fair play, revenue and how to get the competition to be more balanced. The lawsuit that was settled late last year finally and ended a period of public tension and left Hamlin in a position to refocus on what matters most: racing and building his team.
Hamlin’s Reset Comes With Conditions
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Denny Hamlin’s “reset” isn’t unconditional. He expects transparency, equitable treatment, and actual progress. With the France family steering the sport into a new era, and people like Ben Kennedy taking on larger roles, the 23XI co-owner is suggesting he won’t just sit back and watch. He wants to see the sport evolve, from better short-track racing packages to policies that prioritize long-term team survival rather than short-term power plays from corporate.
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At 43, Hamlin is juggling two demanding roles as a championship contender and a business leader. The past legal battles, coupled with negotiations over media rights and charters, have given him a unique front row seat to the sport’s inner workings.
Hamlin is now ready to move on and to compete on the track, but the France family and the sanctioning body have to prove they’re serious about a fairer, modernized NASCAR.
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