Michael Jordan says Bubba Wallace has "the talent to win"
23XI Racing owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, alongside driver Bubba Wallace sat down with Michael Strahan to talk about the new team's foray into NASCAR competition.
23XI Racing debuts in Sunday's Daytona 500 in an all-new venture put together by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin.
In an exclusive interview with FOX Sports, Jordan admitted that he was both excited and anxious about the upcoming 2021 season.
"I’m excited. I’m nervous, even though I’m not getting in the car. The thing is, when you are getting ready to play a big game, you’re nervous but you’re in control."
He later added: "It's a different kind of nervous. Nervous when I'm on the court -- once again, I can go rebound. I can go shoot. I can play defense. Here, all I can do is cheer."
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Toyota Camry DoorDash
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Jordan explained how he ‘grew up in NASCAR,’ recalling how his late father would pack up the family and drive to races at Darlington, Rockingham, Charlotte, Talladega and even Daytona.
“We would just go and spend the whole day. And from that day on, I’ve been hooked on NASCAR.”
Apparently, the prospect of becoming a team owner in NASCAR has been on the NBA legend's mind for some time.
"I’ve thought about it so many different times because I had never seen a black owner or someone of color that really owned a team or could dictate what happened with their team. Obviously we haven’t really been prominent in this sport, but the opportunities have never been presented to you."
Bubba Wallace becomes a voice for social justice and racial equality
Wallace rose to prominence outside of the racing world when he became an outspoken voice for social justice last summer. He led the charge to ban the Confederate Flag from NASCAR races. In doing so, he became the target of many right-wing voices, including former President Donald J. Trump. Wallace also ran a Black Lives Matter paint scheme at Martinsville, following the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis PD.
Darrell Wallace Jr., Richard Petty Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro
Photo by: NASCAR Media
"I thought it was a start for sure," Wallace said of NASCAR's push to be more inclusive. "For years, I have been asked how do we get more minorities in the sport? I’m like, ‘that’s a good question’ (and) that’s at the top of NASCAR’s list. And then the confederate flag rolled around. There is so much backlash against this flag from the minority group we are trying to attract. They are not going to be a part of this until it is gone. I said let's make a stance, let's put our foot down right now. We're opening the door for a whole new family to come in and enjoy our sport."
2021 goals
Hamlin's hopes for the new organization is simply to show improvement over the season. "Our team needs to get better," he said. "I just want to see from the start of this season to the end of the season that the arrow goes in the right direction."
Jordan has a more ambitious goal in mind for Wallace and 23XI Racing.
"I feel like he’s going to learn how to win. He's got the talent. We would not have invested in him if he didn't have the talent to win. By the end of the year, I think he's going to have an opportunity and probably win at least a couple races. If it's more, I'll be elated."
Hamlin is in a unique position. He is not only Wallace's team owner, but his rival on the track. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is going for an unprecedented third consecutive win in the Daytona 500, and he hopes Wallace isn't the one in his way with the checkered flag in sight.
"I want to do something no one else has done ... I hope he’s not in front of me on the last lap. It might get physical (laughs)."
It wouldn't be the first time as the two drivers banged doors across the finish line in the 2018 Daytona 500 where Wallace narrowly bested Hamlin for second-place. Perhaps history will repeat itself in 2021, but this time with a race win up for grabs.
Related video
Previous article
Massive wreck takes out several Daytona 500 contenders early
Next article
Michael McDowell escapes fiery last lap to win Daytona 500
About this article
| Series | NASCAR Cup |
| Event | Daytona 500 |
| Drivers | Bubba Wallace |
| Author | Nick DeGroot |
From the archive: Dale Earnhardt’s final Autosport interview
The death of Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500 shocked NASCAR to the core. At the Daytona 24 Hours, two weeks before his fatal accident, ‘The Intimidator’ shared his expectations of challenging for an eighth Cup title with JONATHAN INGRAM, in an article first published in the 15 February 2001 issue of Autosport magazine. Little did we know then what tragedy would unfold…
The lasting NASCAR legacy after Dale Earnhardt’s death
On February 18, 2001, seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt – the fearless ‘Intimidator’ – was in his element at Daytona International Speedway. While his own DEI team’s cars ran 1-2 towards the finish line, his famed #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo was playing rear gunner to block any late runs from the chasing pack. As the cars tore through Turns 3 and 4 on that fateful final lap, Earnhardt maintained the strongarm tactics that encapsulated his persona… but his actions in those moments sadly proved to be his last.
Inspired by Pitbull, the “revolution” sweeping through NASCAR
The NASCAR Cup Series is changing. Whether it be the gradual morphing out the seasoned drivers of yesterday as the next generation step up, a radical calendar shake-up featuring more road courses than ever before and the prospect of an all-new car on the horizon, stock car racing’s highest level is nearing the end of a huge facelift.
The NASCAR storylines to watch out for in 2021
This weekend's Daytona 500 kickstarts a NASCAR Cup season that promises plenty of intrigue courtesy of new owners and a refreshed calendar. Here's what you need to know ahead of the new season…
Why Kyle Larson can't blow his big shot at redemption
From a disgraced NASCAR exile, Kyle Larson has been given a chance of redemption by the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports squad. Effectively replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is no easy billing, but Larson has every intention of repaying the team's faith...
Why Roger Penske is an American motorsport icon
In this exclusive one-on-one interview, Roger Penske reveals the inner drive that has made him not only a hugely successful team owner and businessman but also the owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar. He spoke to David Malsher-Lopez.
Why NASCAR's latest second-generation champion is just getting started
Chase Elliott's late charge to the 2020 NASCAR Cup title defied predictions that it would be a Kevin Harvick versus Denny Hamlin showdown. While the two veterans are showing no signs of slowing down, Elliott's triumph was a window into NASCAR's future…
Why Kyle Larson deserves his second chance in a cancel culture
“You can’t hear me? Hey n*****” Those fateful words uttered by Kyle Larson, spoken into his esports headset on April 12, were directed at his sim racing spotter – but instead they quickly became amplified around the world via social media, including his own Twitch stream.
