The NASCAR antitrust trial has concluded after Day 2. Today, Denny Hamlin finished up his testimony while Scott Prime began his. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in this case, took Prime to task on a number of issues.

Reports from the NASCAR trial conveyed a tense atmosphere today. Denny Hamlin was rather passionate in his testimony, both under direct and cross-examination. Kessler then asked the NASCAR executive vice president and chief strategy officer about plans to prevent a competing series in stock car racing.

According to Matt Weaver of Motorsport, Prime was asked about NASCAR’s relationship with Speedway Motorsports, contingency plans to prevent a “CART/IRL scenario,” and even his own salary, as well as certain pitch decks he helped create and present to NASCAR leadership.

Weaver also reports that Speedway Motorsports wanted to have SRX races. We know from emails already released in this lawsuit that NASCAR execs were concerned about the potential for SRX to be a competitive series. When SMI tried to host SRX to earn more revenue, NASCAR stepped in and stopped it from happening.

For NASCAR and the teams, this has been a rather intense trial already. We have eight days left as the two sides argue back and forth in front of the jury over these antitrust issues. If it is already getting testy on Day 2, it feels like it will only ramp up and get worse as the days tick by.

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin are very competitive people. They want to win at all costs. NASCAR and the France family don’t want to budge an inch, either. That is going to cause emotions to be high and moments to get contentious.

NASCAR trial: Kessler presses Prime on his salary

One exchange between Jeffrey Kessler and Scott Prime showed just how personal this can be. Even between a witness and an attorney, the NASCAR trial is starting to get impassioned.

As Matt Weaver reports, Kessler asked Prime about his salary. The NASCAR executive vice president makes $400,000. The question came up after Prime had responded multiple times that he couldn’t speak to the material of the agreements between NASCAR and the tracks.

“That’s a lot for someone that just puts slides together for someone else,” Kessler quipped at the witness. “That’s your opinion,” Prime replied.

It feels like the NASCAR trial is going to get more intense as the days drag on. Could we see a settlement at this point? It doesn’t appear likely. This is going to go the distance, and we will see how the jury decides.