The NASCAR landscape has been reshaped with the inception of 23XI Racing, a team spearheaded by Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin and NBA icon Michael Jordan. Hamlin has now revealed an interesting tidbit of Jordan’s involvement, terming it as more “paranoid” rather than overbearing, via ESPN.
Despite his stature in the sporting world, the icon exercises a measured involvement in the team, making sure to not overwhelm its management.
The formation of 23XI Racing came about in 2020. It started with a rumor that Hamlin and Jordan were planning to purchase a NASCAR team. This started a genuine interest from Jordan, leading to the creation of 23XI Racing, named after their shared association with the numbers 23 and 11, respectively. Since then, the team has become a vital player on the grid, addressing several key issues like diversity while modernizing team operations.
While Jordan is the primary owner, Hamlin holds the reins in terms of management and operational decisions.
“If anything, he’s more paranoid about getting too in-depth with the team. But we try to tell him, it’s well worth it, and his involvement is a big part of why our employees love working for someone like him.”
Jordan’s historical presence as the first Black principal owner of a full-time NASCAR Cup team since 1973 has been a groundbreaking step for the sport’s inclusivity. However, his interest in NASCAR isn’t new. Having maintained a long-standing curiosity about the sport, his partnership with Hamlin flourished since their initial meeting in 2010 at a Charlotte Bobcats game.
“You’d think he’d be very controlling, but he’s not. He really, really trusts me, and every move I want to make, he lets me do it.
“Even if he doesn’t think that it’s the right move.”
Still, such freedom comes with high expectations.
“It puts a lot of pressure on me because I don’t want to let him down, and that’s why I put in the work that I do because I know I’m representing a huge brand, a huge athlete, and someone special in the world we live in.
“I want to live up to the winning mentality that he’s had his whole life.”
From signing Bubba Wallace, the only Black full-time Cup Series driver, to their decisive win at Talladega, the team’s trajectory remains promising. Plus, the establishment of their state-of-the-art headquarters, Airspeed, reflects well on their future. The team’s expansion plans, including the addition of Tyler Reddick in the upcoming season, only add to this.
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