23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports announced last week that they had filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and CEO Jim France. This kickstarted a legal process that will take considerable time, but Denny Hamlin won't let it distract him.
He remains 100% focused on winning the Cup Series championship.
"I think it's more of a question for my team and I would ask them 'Has your driver never not been prepared? Has he never given 100%?' Never,'" Hamlin said Saturday at Talladega. "I've certainly talked about it, probably a year or so ago when it came down to this and I became more comfortable with what the result was.
"No matter what, whether I win a championship or not, I'm going to make sure I can sleep at night knowing that I gave it my all for my team."
The legal situation involving 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR is not something that will quickly resolve.
Jeffrey Kessler, the lawyer who represents the two Cup Series teams in the antitrust lawsuit, said during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio last week that it could take "one to two years to get to trial."
With an extended timeline, it would be possible for Hamlin to let the antitrust lawsuit consume him and take away from pursuing wins, as well as the elusive championship.
This is something that he had considered while preparing for this legal action.
As Hamlin explained, the possibility of a lawsuit has been on his plate for some time, but it isn't a responsibility that he is putting solely on himself. Instead, there is a team that can handle everything moving forward as he continues the pursuit of playoff wins and a return to the Championship 4.
"Certainly, from my standpoint, it's provided more relief for me to put more focus on the No. 11 car and everything I have to do there since it's out, done and now there's other people out to speak on it, from the legality standpoint," Hamlin said.
The lawsuit will continue to be a prominent storyline as the season continues -- that is inevitable considering how it could shake up NASCAR and the future of stock car racing in America. Hamlin just won't let it take away from the No. 11 team.
In fact, the lawsuit may give him a little extra fire heading to Talladega.
"You don't think I don't want to come out here and win this weekend more than any," Hamlin asked. "That's what I fuel myself on, making the 18-foot (putt) on hole 18 to win the match. Like, I live for those moments.
"So, certainly, anyone that knows me personally will tell you that these moments, you'll typically get more out of Denny because I hate to lose and certainly will not justify any excuses to losing."