Denny Hamlin was taken aback by NASCAR filing a countersuit against 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and 23XI co-owner Curtis Polk. “It came as a surprise to me,” Hamlin said on Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast.

There is a misconception out there that what’s happening here is the litigation will force a renegotiation. ... And I just want to make clear that that’s not going to happen.”

NASCAR sued 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, saying in court documents that the two companies want to eliminate the charter system.

NASCAR has countersued Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, alleging the teams “willfully” violated antitrust laws through coordinated actions on charter agreements. NASCAR attorney Chris Yates has commented on the matter.

Denny Hamlin showed support for 23XI Racing co-owner Curtis Polk after NASCAR attacked him in a letter. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin shared his thoughts on NASCAR’s countersuit against 23XI and Front Row Motorsports and defended Polk after NASCAR questioned his knowledge of the sport’s business.

Around the deadline of signing the new charter agreement, which 23XI and FRM refused to sign, both teams decided to take legal action against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France, accusing both entities of "unlawful monopolization of premier sock car racing in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the premier stock car racing teams."

NASCAR stated in court documents that the two teams and Curtis Polk “embarked on a strategy to threaten, coerce, and extort NASCAR into meeting their demands for better contract and financial terms.”

NASCAR on Wednesday countersued 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Curtis Polk-a co-owner of 23XI Racing who is closely tied to fellow co-owner Michael Jordan-in a North Carolina federal district court.

NASCAR has filed a counterclaim against Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports alleging they “willfully” violated antitrust laws in connection with the most recent charter agreemen

XI and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams out of 15 that refused to sign new charter agreements, which were presented to the teams last September in a take-it-or-leave-it offer a mere 48 hours before the start of NASCAR's playoffs.

NASCAR has filed a counterclaim against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports alleging they “willfully” violated antitrust laws with new charter deal.