WATCH: “Very disappointing,” Denny Hamlin calls out $2.1 billion worth NASCAR owner for refusing team owners meet invitation
Denny Hamlin was at the Daytona teams meeting representing 23XI Racing.
Follow Us
Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin, Charllotte May 2022 (Credits: IMAGO)
NASCAR and the teams that own the 36 full-time charters in the Cup series have been in a thug war over an agreement on a revenue-sharing system. The negotiations have been going on for over two years, and both parties have yet to agree on a deal despite the original deal being set to expire at the end of the 2024 season.
Following the expiration of an exclusive negotiation window, NASCAR has been talking with teams individually against the team’s demands to have joint meetings. Recently, the majority owners of the 16 NASCAR Cup teams had a meeting at the Daytona International Speedway ahead of the Daytona 500 regarding the same. They also announced the hiring of a anti-trust lawyer.
NASCAR CEO and co-owner Jim France was invited to the meeting. But despite being at the facility for the Daytona 500, he refused to attend the meet. This didn’t sit well with the team owners, and Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, has pointed out via his podcast that France’s move was disappointing.
I do know that the team owners met on Saturday, I was there. The invitation was extended to Jim France, [who] was in town, but he declined that invitation. So, I think it’s disappointing, certainly, I can’t think of a league, or an owner of a league or a commissioner, that would decline meeting with his team owners, that’s very disappointing.Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.
NASCAR hasn’t explained why they’ve refused the invitation
Another issue that is bugging Hamlin is the fact that NASCAR hasn’t given them explanations over why their invitations are being rejected. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had admitted that the teams are confused over the behavior of NASCAR.
In all, I think the teams are wondering, ‘You said no, over and over and over to us, we’re just looking for an explanation of ‘Why?’ and we haven’t got that why yet.’ Other than, ‘It just is.Hamlin said.
The negotiations have to be concluded before the mid-season break of 2024 for a smooth transition of the sport, as issues going beyond that could end up being a major crisis. NASCAR has to listen to teams’ demands for better revenue sharing while the teams need to be slightly more flexible at the negotiation table.
Discover:
Stay Updated!
Justin P Joy
(4859 Articles Published)