“You’ve made history”: Denny Hamlin’s fiancée pens emotional message after massive breakthrough for 23XI Racing 

Denny Hamlin's fiancée, Jordan Fish, penned an encouraging message for the driver after a major turning point for 23XI Racing in the antitrust trial. In her Instagram post she reflected on the driver's journey for the past year and why the recent settlement between NASCAR and the plaintiffs matters so much to their family and the team.

23XI Racing, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan reached a settlement with NASCAR in the long-running antitrust case. She wrote:

“Just so proud of you, and your determination to grow and fight for the sport that you love. You have made history, and I am so grateful to be able to be a witness to it all. What an incredible day for all those who love racing and @nascar . Thank you to everyone who never stopped believing; your support means everything. ❤️”

The antitrust trial ended with a settlement on Dec. 11 at the U.S. District Court of the Western District of North Carolina. The case had reached its ninth day with NASCAR facing claims of anticompetitive behavior that harmed 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Attorneys expected that the jury trial was risky for both sides and that a settlement was likely.

The agreement included a change to the NASCAR charter system. According to a joint statement shared publicly, NASCAR will issue amended terms that include a form of evergreen charters if both sides agree. Before this, charters had expiration points and required renegotiation. Financial terms will not be released.

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Denny Hamlin talks about staying calm after losing the 2025 championship

Denny Hamlin also spoke recently about the end of his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. On his Actions Detrimental podcast, he explained that he tried to stay composed after losing the championship because his daughters were watching. His younger daughter, Molly, was already upset, and he wanted to handle the moment in a way that taught them something important. Denny Hamlin said,

“I just tried to maintain my composure as much as I could for them. Kind of teach them one of the life lessons; you're going to face things that are not fair sometimes.”

Hamlin described the ending to his championship run as unfair. He had started from the pole at Phoenix and led 208 laps, the most in the race. The disappointment came only a few weeks after he secured his 60th career Cup Series win. He still finished second in the standings behind Kyle Larson. Across 35 starts, he earned six wins, 14 top fives, and 18 top tens.

Denny Hamlin remains the longest-running Cup Series driver without a championship. His closest attempt before this season came in 2010, when he finished second behind Jimmie Johnson.

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Edited by Tushhita Barua