The dollar amounts have changed over the years as the sport has grown more and more expensive, but there's a longstanding motto about NASCAR ownership.
How do you make $50 million as a NASCAR owner?
Start with $100 million.
Denny Hamlin has received a crash course in that unfortunate reality this year, as the first-year car owner has experienced the struggles of growing 23XI Racing firsthand. Despite his lone current driver, Bubba Wallace, earning his first career victory earlier this month, Hamlin hasn't been able to secure a charter for the second car he plans to field in 2022.
The deal he thought he had in place to purchase a charter from Front Row Motorsports fell apart at the 11th hour, leaving Hamlin and his soon-to-be new driver Kurt Busch left in the lurch.
When asked about the dilemma by reporters, though, Hamlin shrugged it off.
"It certainly is not going to be financially good for us, but this whole (expletive) sport is financially not good for us," Hamlin said, per The Athletic. "What's the difference?"
Hamlin's never exactly been reticent to share his thoughts, but he's been especially outspoken lately. He got into a lengthy back-and-forth with Chase Briscoe on Instagram on Monday night and has been increasingly outspoken about the unfulfilling style of racing created by NASCAR's low-horsepower, high-downforce package.
On one hand, Hamlin should be feeling pretty comfortable as one of the remaining favorites for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. On the other hand, he's just one point above Kyle Busch for fourth place in the playoff standings, with only the top four drivers eligible for the season-ending championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
