There were some emotional moments for Denny Hamlin in court on Monday as the antitrust lawsuit between NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports finally got underway.

It has been a long time coming after all. 23XI and FRM first filed their lawsuit against the stock car racing series last October, alleging anticompetitive and monopolistic practices.

All of this came after the teams refused to sign up to NASCAR's new Cup Series charter agreements - charters they no longer hold, even on a de facto basis, after an earlier court ruling this year.

After going back and forth all season in court over several issues in the build-up to the trial and pre-trial mediation, no settlement agreement between the two parties was reached. As such, it was back to court on Monday for the case itself to be heard.

Denny Hamlin delivers emotional testimony

Day one of the trial turned out to be an eventful one for Hamlin.

First and foremost, Judge Bell ruled that he and fellow 23XI co-owner Curtis Polk should be barred from the trial until they give their respective testimonies.

This was due to NASCAR having invoked a rule about only having one corporate representative per side, which in 23XI's case, is already Michael Jordan.

As per The Athletic, Judge Bell 'very reluctantly' ruled that way and also stated: “I really do wish you could be here.”

Later in the day, however, Hamlin did give his testimony, and at times, it got emotional, particularly when touching on the early days of his racing career.

Sadly, Hamlin revealed in October that his father, Dennis, 75, is currently suffering from a life-ending illness, and the tears flowed for the Joe Gibbs Racing star on the stand when reflecting on a moment 24 years ago that shaped the rest of his life.

"We got to when I was about 20 and a decision had to be made," Hamlin told the court. "I could keep racing or go out and work for my dad's trailer business."

Elsewhere on the opening day of his testimony, Hamlin discussed 23XI's alliance with JGR, how much it costs 23XI to go Cup Series racing, and how 23XI and other teams are constantly in a battle with NASCAR to land sponsors.

Hamlin is due to continue giving his testimony in court on day two of the trial.