Hamlin reveals Wallace and Reddick playoff fate if 23XI lose Cup Series charters

Denny Hamlin has explained what will happen to 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick should the NASCAR Cup Series organization be forced to compete as open teams.

On Monday, 23XI and Front Row Motorsports' ongoing legal battle with NASCAR took a fresh twist when the two teams filed documents in the US District Court, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to maintain their charter status.

NASCAR heads to Dover Motor Speedway for this Sunday's race, and would be the first time 23XI and FRM would compete without charter status, pending the court's ruling.

While no timeframe has been established for the decision, a ruling is expected before this Sunday's race at Dover.

Speaking on his actions Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin revealed how racing as an open team would impact drivers Reddick and Wallace who will be competing for a place in the playoffs.

"We're going to race, whether we're chartered or unchartered," Hamlin said.

"Yeah, everything would be the same there. Obviously if you miss a race, it makes it harder, you miss out on those points, so hopefully it doesn't come to that."

READ MORE: Denny Hamlin hit with NASCAR penalty as four Cup Series drivers guilty of same offence

What are the details behind 23XI and FRM's latest injunction?

In the court documents from Monday, 23XI and FRM stated that losing their charter status would cause 'irreparable harm' to their teams.

The two teams also stated in the documents that NASCAR has: "signalled its intention to immediately move or sell (their) charters to other entities — putting (23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports) in irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business.”

NASCAR denied this claim in their own filing on Wednesday, and themselves stated: “Although based on the false premise that Plaintiffs have Charters, and notwithstanding the substantial interest in Charters from motorsports companies racing in INDYCAR, Xfinity, and other series, NASCAR has represented it will not sell any Charters before the Court can rule on Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.”

The 2025 Cup Series championship will continue this weekend at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, July 20.

READ MORE: NASCAR announce DOUBLE penalty for Cup Series team after Sonoma incident

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