Kevin Harvick hopes that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) work things out with NASCAR before they head to court in December. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick reacted to the lawsuit airing out text messages from NASCAR, 23XI and FRM.
“When I look at all the text messages, I think to myself there’s a lot of hate in this particular instance and animosity between the two sides,” Kevin Harvick said. “I think at this point, it seems personal. When you look at all the things that the judge has told both sides, it’s like, ‘Hey, this is going to not end well for all of you. I would encourage you to work it out.’ I hope that we can get this worked out before Dec. 1 because I think it’s going to drag everybody through the mud.”
Harvick also discussed how 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan isn’t battling NASCAR for the money. “There’s two sides that aren’t worried about money. They’re worried about fighting for what they believe is right and what is right and what is wrong, unfortunately, is in the court system,” Harvick continued. “I hope that they can figure it out amongst themselves before it goes all the way to drag everybody’s face through the mud.”
Last week, 23XI, FRM and NASCAR battled in a hearing on whether teams should have their charter status reinstated and whether NASCAR should be able to issue one of their charters to another team for the 2026 season. A decision is set to be made this week, but Judge Kenneth Bell urged the sides to settle the preliminary injunction issues before the ruling.
23XI, FRM and NASCAR display text messages in latest hearing
During the hearing, the teams showed a text from NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell to NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps after a meeting with the NASCAR board. The text was about the proposed charter agreement, saying it’s as “close to a comfortable 1996, f—- the teams, dictatorship, motorsport, redneck, southern, tiny sport.”
NASCAR showed a text from 23XI co-owner and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin to what appears to be his partners, saying: “I’m in for the fight with NASCAR. My despise of the France family runs deep.” NASCAR also showed a text from Jordan with his business partner/adviser Curtis Polk, which said: “I think people understand our fight. Good things will come from this. Teams are going to regret supporting us. P—-!!!!!!!!”
23XI and FHM filed a lawsuit against NASCAR and its chairman, Jim France, in October of last year. The teams claimed that NASCAR’s actions with the new charter agreement violated antitrust laws.
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