Without a doubt, NASCAR is considered as one of America’s favorite past-times. So it isn’t surprising that NBA legend Michael Jordan is also a massive NASCAR fan. Ahead of the 2021 Daytona 500, Jordan, Bubba Wallace, and Denny Hamlin sat down to talk about the 23XI Racing team. The former basketball star confessed that he has been a fan of the sport since childhood. He said [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvdc2bNQSzU&feature=youtu.be], “I grew up with NASCAR. My father used to pack the whole family in, we’d go to Darlington, Rockingham, Charlotte, Daytona, and Talladega. We would spend the whole day, and from that point on, I’ve been hooked.” Of course, Jordan may not get a chance to be there at every race. However, he declared that even if he is physically not present, he will definitely be there in spirit. Otherwise, Denny Hamlin will likely act as his proxy, since he is the co-owner. WHAT ELSE DID MICHAEL JORDAN SAY? Speaking about the decision to start a new team, he revealed that he toyed with the idea for a long time. This was largely because he had never seen any NASCAR team owners of color. Of course, he acknowledged that African-American presence was a bit of a minority in the sport. Bubba Wallace in the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-02-15T021652Z_1261278036_MT1USATODAY15576357_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500.jpg]Feb 14, 2021; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) gets ready for the restart of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports However, the opportunity to become a trailblazer in this field, rarely arose. Now, Michael Jordan is a proud owner of a Cup Series team and has a decent driver in the form of Bubba Wallace. The driver quickly set about proving his mettle and was quick right off the bat. He was a regular presence in the Top 5 during the Daytona 500, thus rewarding Jordan’s faith in him. Obviously, Wallace was disappointed with the way his race ended. Especially since he got caught up in the multi-car pile-up that took place late in the race. On the bright side, there are still plenty more races left to prove himself further. Additionally, the NASCAR paddock will remain in Florida soil for a couple more races. READ MORE: Bubba Wallace Believes 23XI Racing Could be His ‘One and Last’ Shot to Prove Himself in NASCAR [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-believes-23xi-racing-could-be-his-one-and-last-shot-to-prove-himself-in-nascar/] 

In a recent conversation, NBA legend Michael Jordan spoke about how he first
became interested in the world of NASCAR racing.

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports,
having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

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Dhruv George

SLUG:SP/WIZ20 DATE: 10/20/01 PHOTO BY : JOEL RICHARDSON DIG

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“From That Point I’ve Been Hooked” – Michael Jordan Reveals Long-Standing
Interest in NASCAR

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Featured in His Latest Venture

<h1 style="text-align: center">23XI Racing: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is 23XI Racing?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: left">Would you believe it, if five years ago, somebody told you that NBA legend Michael Jordan would become a regular name in NASCAR? Most people would probably scoff at the idea. However, that's exactly what happened when 23XI came into inception. 23XI Racing is a stock car racing team that regularly competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team currently has two drivers in its team: Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, and Tyler Reddick driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE.</p>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-2639040 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F4irU_PWEAASKOc-1.jpeg" alt="" width="1769" height="723" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The History of 23XI Racing</strong></h2>
After a lot of speculations and vehement denials by Michael Jordan's representatives about a possible NASCAR entry, 23XI was finally founded in 2020. The team debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series on February 14, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway. The team is owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who is a minority stakeholder. 23XI reportedly has a technical alliance with JGR.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is the team named 23XI Racing?</strong></h2>
23XI Racing's name is a culmination of meaningful symbolism. While the team name is as unconventional as it can be, the backstory behind it is the stuff of legends. Pronounced twenty three-eleven, the team name is an amalgamation of two numbers, 23 and 11, where the former is Michael Jordan's jersey number that he adorned for most of his NBA career. And, 11 stands for Denny Hamlin's car number in his Cup series team, Joe Gibbs Racing, that he has driven for the entirety of his career.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racingâ€™s Net Worth 2024Â </strong></h2>
23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan is reportedly the first athlete to attain billionaire status. And a small chunk of it went to his NASCAR team. As per reports from 2023, 23XI is reportedly worth $150 million. While this is definitely a lot less than where other Cup Series teams stand, which MJ's backing, the best of the team definitely awaits.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Drivers</strong></h2>
23XI currently backs two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series: Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Wallace was the first driver that was announced as a part of the team. What's interesting is that the #23 driver had left his former team Richard Petty Motorsports, who he had driven for four years, just eleven days prior to the announcement.

[caption id="attachment_1946369" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1946369 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1032013058h.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" /> July 15, 2023, Loudon, NH, United States of America: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Drivers, Bubba Wallace 23 and Tyler Reddick 45 get ready to qualify for the Crayon 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon NH. NASCAR Cup Series 2023: Crayon 301 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAa161 20230715_zaa_a161_021 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x[/caption]

Apart from Wallace, Kyle Busch's older brother Kurt Busch was roped in to drive the No. 45 car in the 2022 season. However, his stint at 23XI Racing was unfortunately a short one. Kurt Busch joined the team in 2021 and competed in 20 races throughout the season, before a mishap took away his chances to be back in NASCAR's top division. Busch fell prey to a wreck during the qualifying race at Pocono Raceway and was subsequently not cleared to race in the main event despite his qualification, due to a concussion. Soon after, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nascar-community-comes-together-to-say-goodbye-to-cup-series-champ-kurt-busch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the driver announced his retirement from full-time racing in the Cup Series</a>. Currently, Kurt Busch serves as a consultant to 23Xi Racing.

[caption id="attachment_934728" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-934728 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-02-17T033117Z_1214388381_MT1USATODAY17701270_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500-QUALIFYING.jpg" alt="Kurt Busch" width="1920" height="1342" /> Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (45) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

After Kurt Busch's untimely retirement, Tyler Reddick joined the team to replace the former as the new driver of the No. 45 car. Reddick, who was originally scheduled to start racing 23XI Racing in 2024, joined the team earlier than scheduled, after the Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin owned team bought the remainder of his contract from his then team, Richard Childress Racing.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Partnerships and Endorsements</strong></h2>
Despite 23XI being a fairly new team in the NASCAR Cup Series, it boasts an arsenal of big-named sponsors. After all, with the likes of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin spearheading the team, sponsors seem to have that confidence. While brands like McDonald's, Root Insurance, DoorDash and Columbia Sportswear moved to 23XI Racing in 2021 with Bubba Wallace from Richard Petty Motorsports, Dr. Pepper joined hands with the team soon after.

And that's not all. DraftKings inked a multi-dimensional deal with the Cup Series team ahead of the 2o21 season. Apart from being the official sports betting partner of 23XI Racing, the company also acted as a primary sponsor for #23 driver, Bubba Wallace.

The driver has also had a partnership with Leidos, having joined hands as a primary partner in 2022. The brans primarily teams up with #23 driver Bubba Wallace.

23XI Racing's Michael Jordan popularized brand Jordan also came on-board ahead of the 2022 season when Kurt Busch joined the team. While the team had plans to sponsor the team since its inception, 23XI being a single car organization with Bubba Wallace, in 2021, with backing from Columbia Sportswear proved to be a hindrance. However, Busch's joining finally facilitated the onboarding of the highly popular company.

Additionally, in February 2023, Monster Brewing announced a partnership with 23XI Racing, with Tyler Reddick primarily adorning the colors of the brand. <em>"This is all really cool,"</em> Reddick had said at the time. <em>"And now I get to debut The Beast this weekend atÂ <span class="xn-location">Fontana</span>Â here inÂ <span class="xn-location">California</span>. With the race being in such close proximity to Monster's Global HQ, It worked out to where we got to unveil the Beast scheme here today before getting on-track this weekend... Really cool to unveil the scheme with all the employees today, "</em> the #45 driver added.

Apart from that, Xfinity, the brand and not the NASCAR division, also inked a deal with the team ahead of the 2o23 season. It backed Tyler Reddick at the Richmond Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway last year. The telecommunications brand also sponsored Bubba Wallace at the Martinsville Speedway playoff race in 2023.

In another exciting development, in January 2024, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-mobil-1-expands-its-presence-in-nascar-as-they-announce-a-new-deal-with-all-toyota-teams-in-the-cup-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toyota Racing Development(TRD) and Mobil 1 announced an expansion backing all Toyota NASCAR teams</a>, including 23XI Racing. Tyler Reddick will kick-off the partnership by running a Mobil 1 race at Phoenix in March and Richmond in August. On the other hand, Mobil 1 will be backing Bubba Wallace as a primary sponsor at the Circuit of the Americas race in March.

More exciting names have also joined the team recently. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-makes-dream-come-true-as-23xi-teams-up-the-united-states-airforce-for-the-2024-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The #23 driver reunited with US Air Force</a>, who will serve as a primary sponsor for select races.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2639065 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/FvAJVpXaUAEBEDq.jpeg" alt="" width="1367" height="911" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Investments</strong></h2>
The team has been growing in leaps and bounds ever since it came into business. As recently as 2021, Charlotte Business Journal reported that the team had made a huge $16 million investment into building a team headquarter in Huntersville, North Carolina. The HQ was reportedly being built on a 15-acre site that the team had acquired for $3.7 million the same year. Talking about when the HQ can be expected to be up and running, President of 23XI Racing, Steve Lauletta had said, "<em>â€œWe donâ€™t have an actual date yet, but it will be in the very near future."</em>

The headquarter will be a grand affair as the building will not just be a race shop but also<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-gives-insight-into-airspeed-23xis-sixteen-million-racing-mansion-in-north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> house a 120 room hotel and 12,000 square feet of office space</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Major Achievements and Awards</strong></h2>
If you think 23XI Racing shouldn't be taken seriously just because it's a new team, you're definitely wrong. Despite only three years of experience, the team has been leaving a mark. While 2021 and 2022 proved to be a lackluster season for the team, 2023 went down in history books. Both full-time drivers from the team, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace made it to the Playoffs for the first time in the team's history. While Reddick finished 6th on the standings after getting eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace finished 10th last year after getting post his Round of 12 race elimination at the Charlotte Roval.

23XI Racing team has also been picking up several accolades off the track as well. In February 2024, the team won the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards. "<em>For the third consecutive year, the 23XI Racing family was recognized at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards for living out our mission and values as they pertain to making motorsports more diverse, equitable and inclusive,"Â </em>the official release said.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racingâ€™s Vision</strong></h2>
When it comes to 23XI Racing's future prospects, the team has a lot of cards set on the table. Inclusivity has been at the forefront of the team's beliefs. Speaking about the same and how Bubba Wallace has been a big-time contributor to that cause, team president Steve Lauletta said, <em>"Itâ€™s part of the mission and values of this team, and it was started by what Bubba did for the sport of Nascar in 2020 (by campaigning for a Confederate Flag ban at NASCAR tracks). We all believe in it and we want to make it a focus of what we do as a team, and our partners believe in it."</em>

Even team co-owner Denny Hamlin mentioned how expanding the talent pool and encouraging inclusivity is a vision that the team definitely sees. In an interview with Associated Press, the #11 driver said, <em>â€œIâ€™m looking at potential hires right now that weâ€™ve got on the board â€” thereâ€™s England, Brazil and Israel, the next three hires."</em> "<em>Weâ€™re trying to make a very diverse team. Certainly itâ€™s important to give opportunities to those that never thought racing was a job, a place that they could have a job opportunity, "Â </em>the co-owner further added.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1079908 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/EievOnNWAAMVQ05.0-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" />

And not just that, the team is also heavily involved in charitable causes such as the <b>23XI Speed Institute Tuition Programme,</b> under the team's educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The program which offers $5,000 each to 23 students every year besides providing them with opportunities <em>"such as scholarships and internships, as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field"</em>.

Speaking about the same, the team president said,<em> "This was the second year that we gave away 23 US$5,000 scholarships to students of diverse backgrounds that wanted to explore motorsports, whether that be in engineering or on the business side. Two of those winning scholarship recipients were interns with us this year, and theyâ€™ll be interns with us next year. Those are the kind of things that all of our partners are rallying behind and want to be a part of so that we can help change the sport.â€</em>

What's clear is the 23Xi racing team is in NASCAR for more than just racing and championship wins!
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Social Media</strong></h2>
<table style="width: 439px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://twitter.com/23XIRacing?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://x.com/23XIRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Website</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.23xiracing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.23xiracing.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="width: 59.7333%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">23XI Racing</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Owners</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%">Headquarters</td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Mooresville, North Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">SeriesÂ </span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Race Drivers</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Tyler Reddick (No. 45)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Sponsors</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">McDonald's, Beast Unleashed, Nasty Beast, Columbia Sportswear, MoneyLion, Leidos, U.S. Air Force, Jordan Brand. Mobil 1, Monster Energy, Xfinity, Draft Kings, Walmart, DoorDash, Dr Pepper, NBA 2K24, melin, Mack Trucks, R3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Manufacturer</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Toyota</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Founded</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">2020</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Latest Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">2024 Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Championship</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">NA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Race Victories</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">$150 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

23XI Racing

23XI Racing: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More What is 23XI Racing? Would you believe it, if five years ago, somebody told you that NBA legend Michael Jordan would become a regular name in NASCAR? Most people would probably scoff at the idea. However, that&#8217;s exactly what happened when 23XI came into inception. 23XI Racing is a stock car racing team that regularly competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team currently has two drivers in its team: Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, and Tyler Reddick driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE. The History of 23XI Racing After a lot of speculations and vehement denials by Michael Jordan&#8217;s representatives about a possible NASCAR entry, 23XI was finally founded in 2020. The team debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series on February 14, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway. The team is owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who is a minority stakeholder. 23XI reportedly has a technical alliance with JGR. Why is the team named 23XI Racing? 23XI Racing&#8217;s name is a culmination of meaningful symbolism. While the team name is as unconventional as it can be, the backstory behind it is the stuff of legends. Pronounced twenty three-eleven, the team name is an amalgamation of two numbers, 23 and 11, where the former is Michael Jordan&#8217;s jersey number that he adorned for most of his NBA career. And, 11 stands for Denny Hamlin&#8217;s car number in his Cup series team, Joe Gibbs Racing, that he has driven for the entirety of his career. 23XI Racingâ€™s Net Worth 2024Â  23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan is reportedly the first athlete to attain billionaire status. And a small chunk of it went to his NASCAR team. As per reports from 2023, 23XI is reportedly worth $150 million. While this is definitely a lot less than where other Cup Series teams stand, which MJ&#8217;s backing, the best of the team definitely awaits. 23XI Racing Drivers 23XI currently backs two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series: Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Wallace was the first driver that was announced as a part of the team. What&#8217;s interesting is that the #23 driver had left his former team Richard Petty Motorsports, who he had driven for four years, just eleven days prior to the announcement. July 15, 2023, Loudon, NH, United States of America: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Drivers, Bubba Wallace 23 and Tyler Reddick 45 get ready to qualify for the Crayon 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon NH. NASCAR Cup Series 2023: Crayon 301 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY &#8211; ZUMAa161 20230715_zaa_a161_021 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x Apart from Wallace, Kyle Busch&#8217;s older brother Kurt Busch was roped in to drive the No. 45 car in the 2022 season. However, his stint at 23XI Racing was unfortunately a short one. Kurt Busch joined the team in 2021 and competed in 20 races throughout the season, before a mishap took away his chances to be back in NASCAR&#8217;s top division. Busch fell prey to a wreck during the qualifying race at Pocono Raceway and was subsequently not cleared to race in the main event despite his qualification, due to a concussion. Soon after, the driver announced his retirement from full-time racing in the Cup Series. Currently, Kurt Busch serves as a consultant to 23Xi Racing. Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (45) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports After Kurt Busch&#8217;s untimely retirement, Tyler Reddick joined the team to replace the former as the new driver of the No. 45 car. Reddick, who was originally scheduled to start racing 23XI Racing in 2024, joined the team earlier than scheduled, after the Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin owned team bought the remainder of his contract from his then team, Richard Childress Racing. 23XI Racing Partnerships and Endorsements Despite 23XI being a fairly new team in the NASCAR Cup Series, it boasts an arsenal of big-named sponsors. After all, with the likes of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin spearheading the team, sponsors seem to have that confidence. While brands like McDonald&#8217;s, Root Insurance, DoorDash and Columbia Sportswear moved to 23XI Racing in 2021 with Bubba Wallace from Richard Petty Motorsports, Dr. Pepper joined hands with the team soon after. And that&#8217;s not all. DraftKings inked a multi-dimensional deal with the Cup Series team ahead of the 2o21 season. Apart from being the official sports betting partner of 23XI Racing, the company also acted as a primary sponsor for #23 driver, Bubba Wallace. The driver has also had a partnership with Leidos, having joined hands as a primary partner in 2022. The brans primarily teams up with #23 driver Bubba Wallace. 23XI Racing&#8217;s Michael Jordan popularized brand Jordan also came on-board ahead of the 2022 season when Kurt Busch joined the team. While the team had plans to sponsor the team since its inception, 23XI being a single car organization with Bubba Wallace, in 2021, with backing from Columbia Sportswear proved to be a hindrance. However, Busch&#8217;s joining finally facilitated the onboarding of the highly popular company. Additionally, in February 2023, Monster Brewing announced a partnership with 23XI Racing, with Tyler Reddick primarily adorning the colors of the brand. &#8220;This is all really cool,&#8221; Reddick had said at the time. &#8220;And now I get to debut The Beast this weekend atÂ FontanaÂ here inÂ California. With the race being in such close proximity to Monster&#8217;s Global HQ, It worked out to where we got to unveil the Beast scheme here today before getting on-track this weekend&#8230; Really cool to unveil the scheme with all the employees today, &#8220; the #45 driver added. Apart from that, Xfinity, the brand and not the NASCAR division, also inked a deal with the team ahead of the 2o23 season. It backed Tyler Reddick at the Richmond Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway last year. The telecommunications brand also sponsored Bubba Wallace at the Martinsville Speedway playoff race in 2023. In another exciting development, in January 2024, Toyota Racing Development(TRD) and Mobil 1 announced an expansion backing all Toyota NASCAR teams, including 23XI Racing. Tyler Reddick will kick-off the partnership by running a Mobil 1 race at Phoenix in March and Richmond in August. On the other hand, Mobil 1 will be backing Bubba Wallace as a primary sponsor at the Circuit of the Americas race in March. More exciting names have also joined the team recently. The #23 driver reunited with US Air Force, who will serve as a primary sponsor for select races. 23XI Racing Investments The team has been growing in leaps and bounds ever since it came into business. As recently as 2021, Charlotte Business Journal reported that the team had made a huge $16 million investment into building a team headquarter in Huntersville, North Carolina. The HQ was reportedly being built on a 15-acre site that the team had acquired for $3.7 million the same year. Talking about when the HQ can be expected to be up and running, President of 23XI Racing, Steve Lauletta had said, &#8220;â€œWe donâ€™t have an actual date yet, but it will be in the very near future.&#8221; The headquarter will be a grand affair as the building will not just be a race shop but also house a 120 room hotel and 12,000 square feet of office space. 23XI Racing Major Achievements and Awards If you think 23XI Racing shouldn&#8217;t be taken seriously just because it&#8217;s a new team, you&#8217;re definitely wrong. Despite only three years of experience, the team has been leaving a mark. While 2021 and 2022 proved to be a lackluster season for the team, 2023 went down in history books. Both full-time drivers from the team, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace made it to the Playoffs for the first time in the team&#8217;s history. While Reddick finished 6th on the standings after getting eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace finished 10th last year after getting post his Round of 12 race elimination at the Charlotte Roval. 23XI Racing team has also been picking up several accolades off the track as well. In February 2024, the team won the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards. &#8220;For the third consecutive year, the 23XI Racing family was recognized at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards for living out our mission and values as they pertain to making motorsports more diverse, equitable and inclusive,&#8221;Â the official release said. 23XI Racingâ€™s Vision When it comes to 23XI Racing&#8217;s future prospects, the team has a lot of cards set on the table. Inclusivity has been at the forefront of the team&#8217;s beliefs. Speaking about the same and how Bubba Wallace has been a big-time contributor to that cause, team president Steve Lauletta said, &#8220;Itâ€™s part of the mission and values of this team, and it was started by what Bubba did for the sport of Nascar in 2020 (by campaigning for a Confederate Flag ban at NASCAR tracks). We all believe in it and we want to make it a focus of what we do as a team, and our partners believe in it.&#8221; Even team co-owner Denny Hamlin mentioned how expanding the talent pool and encouraging inclusivity is a vision that the team definitely sees. In an interview with Associated Press, the #11 driver said, â€œIâ€™m looking at potential hires right now that weâ€™ve got on the board â€” thereâ€™s England, Brazil and Israel, the next three hires.&#8221; &#8220;Weâ€™re trying to make a very diverse team. Certainly itâ€™s important to give opportunities to those that never thought racing was a job, a place that they could have a job opportunity, &#8220;Â the co-owner further added. And not just that, the team is also heavily involved in charitable causes such as the 23XI Speed Institute Tuition Programme, under the team&#8217;s educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The program which offers $5,000 each to 23 students every year besides providing them with opportunities &#8220;such as scholarships and internships, as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field&#8221;. Speaking about the same, the team president said, &#8220;This was the second year that we gave away 23 US$5,000 scholarships to students of diverse backgrounds that wanted to explore motorsports, whether that be in engineering or on the business side. Two of those winning scholarship recipients were interns with us this year, and theyâ€™ll be interns with us next year. Those are the kind of things that all of our partners are rallying behind and want to be a part of so that we can help change the sport.â€ What&#8217;s clear is the 23Xi racing team is in NASCAR for more than just racing and championship wins! 23XI Racing Social Media  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/  Twitter https://x.com/23XIRacing/  Website www.23xiracing.com    Name 23XI Racing  Owners Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan  Headquarters Mooresville, North Carolina  SeriesÂ  NASCAR Cup Series  Race Drivers Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Tyler Reddick (No. 45)  Sponsors McDonald&#8217;s, Beast Unleashed, Nasty Beast, Columbia Sportswear, MoneyLion, Leidos, U.S. Air Force, Jordan Brand. Mobil 1, Monster Energy, Xfinity, Draft Kings, Walmart, DoorDash, Dr Pepper, NBA 2K24, melin, Mack Trucks, R3  Manufacturer Toyota  Founded 2020  Latest Race 2024 Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum  Championship NA  Race Victories 5  Net Worth $150 million

23XI Racing Archives

23XI Racing Archives - EssentiallySports

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In a recent conversation, NBA legend Michael Jordan spoke about how he first became interested in the world of NASCAR racing.

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Bubba Wallace

Who is Bubba Wallace? Bubba Wallace may not be one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR today but he is one of the most talented. The 23XI Racing star&#8217;s aggressive and unapologetic attitude doesn&#8217;t sit well with a lot of fans, although he never saw that as an issue. In the past, Bubba was accused of being too aggressive on the track with his moves but looks like he has worked on that aspect of late. His race craft has matured as a result but that hunger to win is still very much intact. Bubba is at the prime of his racing career and it will be interesting to see how that pans out. Bubba Wallaceâ€™s early life The 23XI Racing driver was born on October 8, 1993, in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Concord, North Carolina. He was born to Darrell Wallace Sr and Desiree Wallace and has a sister named Brittany Wallace. He was educated at the Northwest Cabarrus High School. While a lot of drivers today come from racing backgrounds, this was not the case with the driver of the 23XI racing team. His father owns an industrial cleaning company while his mother works as a social worker. Bubba Wallace is the only full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series today who is of African-American descent. Being a motorsports athlete is a taxing job and it&#8217;s not uncommon for drivers to undergo a lot of mental pressure. Things had gotten a bit too much for Bubba Wallace as he admitted to battling depression during his racing career in 2019. Several of his peers came out in his support. After his good friend Ryan Blaney won the Cup in 2023, Wallace was affected yet again. â€œHe called me a couple days later and I was like, â€˜Man, I guess you winning the championship sent me into depression. Like congrats, but I donâ€™t want to see that&#8217;,â€ the 23XI star admitted as per AP. May 22, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) celebrates in Victory lane with NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) after winning the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Bubba Wallace&#8217;s wife and marriage One of the people who has helped Bubba Wallace through the toughest of times is his wife, Amanda Wallace.Â â€œI wake up and my wifeâ€™s there. Sheâ€™s like, â€˜How are you feeling today?â€™ And itâ€™s like, one of those days,â€ Wallace said as per People Magazine. â€œWe keep each other on our toes. We play video games together. So sheâ€™s a massive help,&#8221; the driver added. Amanda Wallace (formerly Carter) met Bubba Wallace for the first time in high school and it was love at first sight for the motorsports athlete. But Amanda perhaps did not feel the same way in the beginning. &#8220;She thought I was nice, but not attractive,&#8221;Â he said as per People.Â &#8220;I just remember seeing her and I was like, &#8216;Wow, she&#8217;s beautiful&#8217;.&#8221; It took them a few years but Bubba and Amanda started dating in 2016 and announced their engagement in 2021. The couple got married one year later on New Year&#8217;s Eve. Wallace&#8217;s best man at the wedding was none other than his good friend and fellow competitor, Ryan Blaney. The couple celebrated their first anniversary recently but they are yet to have any children. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS &#8211; SEPTEMBER 11: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, celebrates with fiance, Amanda Carter and pet dog, Asher in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace net worth 2024 Wallace has been a full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series for quite a while now, and a successful one at that. So it is no surprise that over the years, he has accumulated a decent amount of wealth. According to several sources, the 23XI Racing star currently boasts a net worth of $4 million. A substantial part of his income also comes from the several brand endorsements and partnerships he is involved in. As per reports, Bubba Wallace currently has sponsorship deals in place with Beats by Dre, Columbia Sportswear, and McDonalds. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA &#8211; OCTOBER 16: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 McDonald&#8217;s Toyota, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace&#8217;s career timeline Bubba Wallace&#8217;s introduction to competitive racing came early in his life when he started participating in the Bandolero and Legends car racing series at the young age of nine. And just three years later, in 2005, the driver racked up 35 wins in the 48 races held that year. Since then, Bubba Wallace has had an upward graph in his career which saw him move to the NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East in 2010. He was also inducted as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing as a part of NASCAR&#8217;s Drive for Diversity Program. After clinching multiple wins at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Lee USA Speedway, Richmond International Speedway, and Dover International Speedway, among others, the driver finally made his Xfinity Series debut for JGR in 2012. In his first season with the team, Bubba Wallace participated in four races and clinched a season-high finishing position of P7 at Iowa Speedway. Shy of a win throughout his Xfinity Series career, Wallace&#8217;s best performance came at D0ver Motor Speedway when he finished P2 in 2016 for Roush Fenway Racing. In 2017, Bubba Wallace made his Cup Series debut for Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), driving the No.43 Ford, at Pocono Raceway and finished P26. He was substituting for an injured Aric Almirola and went on to participate in four races that season. However, a full-time role wasn&#8217;t too far as, in 2018, after Almirola&#8217;s departure, Bubba Wallace was announced as the new driver for RPM. This was a historic moment as Wallace became the first African-American driver to secure a full-time ride in the Cup Series since Wendell Scott in 1971. Wallace subsequently went on to finish 28th in his first-ever Cup Season with one Top-5 and three Top-10s. His very first race as a full-time driver became his very best of the season as the driver finished P2 at the Daytona 500, just behind Austin Dillon. Bubba Wallace has two wins in his Cup series career so far, with victories at Talladega in 2021 and Kansas in 2022. Wallace might not have won any races in the 2023 Cup season but it was a transformative year for the driver. He made it into the playoffs for the first time and achieved a career-high points finish of 10th. Bubba Wallaceâ€™s partnerships and endorsements Bubba Wallace has made quite a mark in NASCAR and that is evident from his sponsor list with big names like Columbia Sportswear, the United States Air Force, and Dr. Pepper, among others. Columbia Sportswear has backed Wallace since his time with Richard Petty Motorsports and has renewed their partnership again as a primary sponsor for the 2023 season. As for his 2024 sponsorship situation, the driver will be seen reuniting with the United States Air Force, who will adorn his #23 car for select races. â€œItâ€™s really special to once again be partnered with the men and women who make up the United States Air Force. My previous experience with the folks from the Air Force was awesome, and I had the chance to meet a lot of great Airmen who do some amazing things each and every day. Iâ€™m looking forward to welcoming them to 23XI and showing them what weâ€™re all about as we work together to try and accomplish the impossible,&#8221;Â Bubba Wallace said about the partnership. Apart from that, Wallace has a tie-up with Mcdonalds&#8217; which dates back to 2022. The driver also ran a brand-centered paint scheme at Homestead in 2023. What&#8217;s more? Mcdonalds&#8217; also has a Bubba Wallace-inspired meal for customers residing in Chicago and Northwest Indiana! Dr. Pepper has also had a storied history with the driver. It was announced ahead of the 2021 Cup season that Bubba Wallace would be joining 23XI Racing and would be backed by a slew of primary sponsors that included Dr. Pepper, DoorDash, and Root Insurance among others. Bubba Wallaceâ€™s NASCAR career stats Bubba Wallace has competed in 51 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since his debut in 2013 and has clinched six victories so far. Apart from that, Wallace has also reached the Top 10 30 times and the Top 5 16 times, while securing three pole positions. He has had an average finish of 10.4 with 987 laps led. Despite being a regular face in the Cup Series since 2017, Bubba Wallace has had a hard time making it to the playoffs. The driver failed to reach the Top 10 in players&#8217; standings in the first six years in NASCAR&#8217;s top faction. However, 2023 provided a redemption arc to him as the driver reached the Round of 12 following the Bristol Night Race. However, he was later eliminated after his outing at Charlotte Roval where he finished P16. &#8220;We werenâ€™t supposed to be here according to a lot of people, but we proved them wrong and then proved a lot of people in the garage wrong that you canâ€™t really count on the No. 23 at a road course race,&#8221;Â Bubba Wallace had said after his elimination. Bubba Wallace records Bubba Wallace may be yet to win any major NASCAR championship but he has created history in stock car racing. The 23XI Racing driver is the highest-finishing African-American driver in the Daytona 500 (P2 in 2022) and the Brickyard 400 (P3 in 2019). He has also accumulated 6 wins in the Truck Series, making him the first African-American driver to win a race in the competition&#8217;s history. He is also the first Black driver to earn a full-time Cup Series ride since Wendell Scott in 1971. He also became the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race with his Talladega win in 2021, since Scott in 1963. Bubba Wallace foundation The driver of the #23 Cup Series car is the founder and leader of the Live To Be Different Foundation. The organization was founded in 2017 and its main goal is to assist people achieve their dreams regardless of their age, disabilities, or racial background. According to the foundation&#8217;s website, its mission is also to inspire future generations to be more inclusive than their predecessors. Wallace has also been awarding scholarships to deserving students at the Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord as part of the foundation. Each year, one male and one female student gets a scholarship worth $5,000. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS &#8211; SEPTEMBER 11: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace controversies Bubba Wallace&#8217;s very nature may be admired by some but it has gotten the 23XI Racing driver into a lot of trouble. One of the most infamous fights he got into was with former Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. At Las Vegas in 2o22, the two drivers got into a physical brawl after an on-track incident. Wallace was seen clutching Larson&#8217;s race suit but the Hendrick Motorsports driver kept his cool until they were separated by officials. The driver of the #23 was suspended for one race by NASCAR as a result and he issued an apology to the parties involved for letting his emotions run a bit too wild. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA &#8211; OCTOBER 16: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 McDonald&#8217;s Toyota, confronts Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Wallace has never shied away from speaking his mind and he was one of the most outspoken sportsmen when protests over the murder of George Floyd took the country by storm. When NASCAR decided to ban the confederate flag, Bubba Wallace supported the step. However, just a few days after that, a noose was found in his garage stall at Talladega. Things got a bit messy with the federal authorities as a result and Wallace&#8217;s team at the time, Richard Petty Motorsports was tight-lipped about the matter. Bubba Wallace Netflix documentary Early in 2022, the 23XI Racing star&#8217;s documentary called Race: Bubba WallaceÂ was released. Of course, the documentary delved into the life of the race car driver Wallace, but it also portrayed his activist side. The driver of the #23 was an outspoken sportsperson about the George Floyd murder and that aspect was shown beautifully in the series. It also covered the whole incident with the noose in the garage and provided a lot of insight into what goes on behind the scenes in NASCAR. It has been received fairly well by the audience with an IMDb rating of 6.6 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 59%. The docu-series got Bubba Wallace put Bubba Wallace in a different kind of race outside the track as it was nominated and then eventually won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Series(serialized) in 2023. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS &#8211; SEPTEMBER 11: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, vl the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace and Michael Jordan&#8217;s connection When NBA legend Michael Jordan decided to delve into the world of motorsports, 23XI Racing was founded along with Denny Hamlin in 2020. Jordan had been interested in investing in Richard Petty Motorsports, for whom Wallace drove at the time. However, he went ahead with building a new team and signing Bubba Wallace as their first driver on a 3-year deal. After Wallace&#8217;s two impressive wins, the team extended his contract and secured its near future with the outspoken driver. When he first got the opportunity, Wallace was reportedly star-struck, However, he has been quite successful with the team and will hope to win the Cup Series with them someday. LEBANON, TENNESSEE &#8211; JUNE 25: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Root Insurance Toyota, speak with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing and his Yvette Prieto during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25, 2022 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace in popular media Apart from having his own Netflix Series, Bubba Wallace has frequently appeared in the mainstream media. He voiced the character Bubba Wheelhouse in the 2017 Pixar movie Cars 3. The driver of the #23 was also in a music video along with Denny Hamlin for a Post Malone song called Motley Crew. He is also set to appear in a Netflix series called NASCAR: Full Speed. Bubba Wallace&#8217;s social media Bubba Wallace is quite active on social media, especially on his X and Instagram handles. On the former, he could often be seen engaging in debate with fans and NASCAR insiders.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BubbaWallace  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bubbawallace/  Twitter https://twitter.com/BubbaWallace    Full Name William Darrell Wallace Jr  Popular Name Bubba Wallace  Birth Place Mobile, Alabama  Birth Date October 8, 1993  Age 30  Height 5&#8217;6&#8243;  Weight 165 lbs  Parents Darrell Wallace Sr, Desiree Wallace  Siblings Brittany Wallace  Nationality American  Ethnicity African-American  Net Worth $4 million  Salary $2.2 million  Relationship/Marital Status Married  Spouse Amanda Wallace (Carter)  Children None  Profession Race car driver  Team 23XI Racing

Bubba Wallace Archives

Bubba Wallace Archives - EssentiallySports

Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin Net Worth 2024, Family, Controversies, and More Denny Hamlin is a stock car racing driver and team owner who has been competing in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing since 2005.Â His first-ever race was at the Kansas Speedway, where he finished P32. The driver has amassed 51 wins in NASCAR&#8217;s top faction so far. One of his most notable achievements has been three Daytona 500 wins in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Hamlin was also named as one of NASCAR&#8217;s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. Besides his racing stint, he has also been the team owner of Cup Series team 23XI Racing since 2020, alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s family Denny Hamlin was born to Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Clark on November 18, 1980, at the St. Joseph&#8217;s Women&#8217;s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. He has two older siblings, Kevin and Lisa Hamlin.Â The family decided to move to Virginia when he was only 2 years old. He was educated at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The family might not have been the most financially stable one, but Denny&#8217;s parents&#8217; struggles to get him going in motorsports have definitely paid dividends. At the age of seven, Denny Hamlin made his go-kart debut and went on to win his first race. Before Joe Gibbs Racing took notice of him in 2004, he made rapid progress at the local tracks in Richmond, Virginia, dominating the Late Model Stock Cars, Grand Stocks, and Mini Stocks. He was signed to a driver development contract by JGR in 2004, and he took part in five Truck Series races that year before appearing in the Cup as a part-time driver in 2005. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s wife and children The motorsports veteran has two daughters, Taylor James Hamlin (born January 20, 2013), and Molly Gold Hamlin (born August 15, 2017), with Jordan Fish. Denny and Jordan are not married, and over the years, they have shared a rather complex relationship. While the couple had broken up in 2021, there were rumors of reconciliation doing the rounds. The two were spotted together at the 2023 NASCAR Awards Banquet, and Hamlin even spent Jordan Fish&#8217;s birthday with her in 2023. The couple got engaged on January 1, 2024, after Denny Hamlin went down on one knee. 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Motorsport USA Cup Series Awards &#8211; Las Vegas Denny Hamlin, Jordan Fish arriving for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards held at the Wynn Hotrel &amp; Casino, Las Vegas, November 29, 2018 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAJMx 39974306 | Credits: Imago Denny Hamlin&#8217;s net worth 2024 As he is one of the veterans in the Cup Series today driving for one of the biggest teams, Denny Hamlin is one of the highest-paid drivers in the competition today. He also makes a fair sum from being a co-owner of 23XI Racing and through his sponsorships. From his on-track and off-track successes, Hamlin has managed to build a net worth of approximately $65 million. Denny Hamlin has had FedEx as his primary sponsor since he started racing in the Cup Series. Joe Gibbs Racing was also able to bring in the big names like Coca-Cola and Mavis Tyres &amp; Brakes. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s career timeline NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Before Denny Hamlin made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series, he was a regular face in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Making his debut at the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in 2004 for EJP Racing, the driver managed to finish P10. He competed in four more Truck Series races that same year but failed to clinch a Top-10. Hamlin ultimately finished the season with 582 points, ranked 37th. After skipping the promotion in 2005, he returned the following year with Morgan-Dollar Motorsports and competed in a single race at Martinsville Speedway where he finished P8. That was his only race with the team. Over the next four years, Hamlin continued participating in single races each season for Billy Ballew Motorsports. His highest finish with the team came in 2008 when he clinched P3 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, the highest finish of his Truck Series career would not come until 2011 when he clinched a victory at the United Rentals 200 at the Martinsville Speedway, for Kyle Busch Motorsports, a race which Hamlin won again the next year. After spending three seasons with KBM, the driver&#8217;s last Truck race came in 2013 when he competed in the 2013 Kroger 200 at Martinsville, finishing P6. Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) driver Kyle Larson (5) and driver Kyle Busch (18) race for position during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports ARCA Menards Series Denny Hamlin had a short stint at the ARCA Menards Series where he ran only one race each in 2004 and 2005. In his first year at ARCA, Hamlin was seen piloting the #10 Pontiac for Fast Track Racing Enterprises, at the General Tire 200 race at Talladega Superspeedway, where he finished third. However, 2005 didn&#8217;t prove to be a good year for him as the driver finished P36, driving a #2 Pontiac at the Nashville ARCA 150 at the Nashville Superspeedway for Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s journey to the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup SeriesÂ  It&#8217;s like Denny Hamlin was announcing his arrival to the world in 2004 when he decided to compete in different promotions across the roster. Besides his Truck and Arca debut in 2004, the driver also participated in his first-ever Xfinity Series race for Joe Gibbs Racing that same year at the Darlington Raceway, finishing eighth. In an Xfinity career spanning 19 years, Hamlin has participated in 163 races and clinched a victory on 18 occasions. The driver also flaunts 101 Top-10 finishes in the promotion. However, Hamlin&#8217;s ultimate calling came in 2005 when he debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. The driver has remained with the team for the entirety of his Cup career driving the #11. Revealing how the team became a stepping-stone for his illustrious career, Hamlin, in 2017, revealed Joe Gibbs&#8217; son J.D. Gibbs was the one who gave him his first opportunity at JGR. In an X(formerly Twitter) video, Denny Hamlin explained, &#8220;He&#8217;s the one who actually gave me my first opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing. We went to a test at Hickory Motor Speedway, called his dad up, they signed me about 13 years ago.&#8221;Â  The driver has participated in 650 races in the Cup Series till date, where he has clinched 51 wins and 340 Top-10 positions. Apart from that, the driver also flaunts 40 pole positions. Denny Hamlinâ€™s Partnerships and Endorsements Denny Hamlin has had a plethora of sponsorships over the years. Among the most notable is his long-standing relationship with FedEx which dates back to 2005 when he made his Cup Series debut. The conglomerate has served as the primary sponsor for the driver for over 30 races every year. However, in recent times, that number has come down significantly. The driver has also had a sponsorship with Coca-Cola and sported the brand on his car for the first time at the 2022 Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hamlin&#8217;s other sponsors include Yahoo!, Shingrix, and Mavis Tyres &amp; Brakes, among others. HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA &#8211; OCTOBER 23: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 23, 2022 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Denny Hamlinâ€™s investments Denny Hamlin is not just a full-time driver in the Cup Series. He is the co-owner of 23XI Racing with NBA legend Michael Jordan. Jordan and Hamlin announced on September 21, 2020, that they would be forming a Cup team to start competing in 2021, with Jordan holding the majority ownership. The team currently fields two full-time drivers, Bubba Wallace in the #23 and Tyler Reddick in the #45. Bubba Wallace was the first driver they signed after buying a guaranteed starting spot in every 2021 race after purchasing a charter from Germain Racing. Hamlin and Wallace are two of the most outspoken individuals in the Cup Series, and even the people they work closely with aren&#8217;t afraid to speak up, making it a feisty combo. As a team owner, Hamlin is a fan of NASCAR&#8217;s charter system as he believes it to be a lifeline for owners. The team was later expanded to two drivers, and Tyler Reddick joined in. The name, 23XI, is an amalgamation of Jordan&#8217;s most-used jersey number (23) and the JGR car number which Hamlin drives (11). The team has a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlinâ€™s NASCAR career stats Ever since Denny Hamlin&#8217;s debut in NASCAR in 2004, the driver has been a regular face in the circuit for around 18 years. While Hamlin started his Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series career in 2004, he was seen in a Cup race for the first time in 2005. Over his illustrious career, Denny Hamlin has participated in a staggering 650 races in the NASCAR Cup Series as of August 30, 2023. He has been to clinch victory on 51 occasions and also featured 340 times in the Top-10. Apart from that, Hamlin has also secured 40 pole positions during that time. As for his Xfinity series career, the driver has had 163 race features as of August 30, 2023. Emerging victorious in 18 races, Hamlin has been able to secure a pole position in 21 races with 101 Top-10s. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s Truck series career has been his least elaborate one among the Top 3 NASCAR promotions. The driver has participated in only 16 races over 9 years. With two wins and 10 Top-10s, the driver has secured a pole position only once. Â Denny Hamlin records With a career spanning almost two decades, Denny Hamlin has successfully proven his dominance in the sport. With 51 all-time wins as of December 2023, the driver sits at a comfortable 13th position just behind the Petty family patriarch, Lee Petty on the All-Time NASCAR Cup Series Wins List. Apart from that, the #11 JGR driver has taken a victory lap in the Daytona 500 race thrice in his career with two of those wins in successive years. Beating the likes of Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, Hamlin&#8217;s first Daytona 500 win came in 2016. Subsequently, the driver went on to win the crown jewel race again in 2019 and 2020. However, those are not Denny Hamlin&#8217;s only crown-jewel race victories. The driver emerged victorious in the Cook Out Southern 500 race held at the iconic Darlington Raceway in 2010, 2017, and 2021. Apart from that, he also won the Coca-Cola 600 race in 2022, his first and only victory in the revered event. However, Hamlin has yet to secure his maiden Brickyard 400 victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Denny Hamlin&#8217;s major achievements and awards Denny Hamlin, undoubtedly, forms the crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me of stock car racing today. The veteran has several accolades to show for it as well. However, one of his most significant achievements came in 2023 when he was added to the list of NASCAR&#8217;s 75 Greatest Drivers list. Making his place among icons like Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon, Hamlin has almost reached the pinnacle of his stock car racing career. Denny Hamlin also won the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year award in 2006. With 330 points and two race wins, he beat Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr who were second and third on the list with 271 and 243 points respectively. Also in the running that year were Reed Sorenson, JJ Yeley, and David Stremme, who secured 222, 213, and 192 points respectively. Denny Hamlin and his controversial &#8216;Family Guy&#8217; tweet Hamlin has often been surrounded with controversy but there have been moments when he has taken things a tad too far. One such moment was when he posted a Family Guy meme about Kyle Larson that was cause for outrage among a lot of people. The JGR man tweeted it after Larson&#8217;s ambitious move at Talladega in the 2022 Cup Series went wrong and he ended up wrecking. The video Hamlin posted was of an offensive Asian stereotype and given Kyle Larson was half-Japanese, very few people found it funny. Denny Hamlin eventually took down the tweet after a lot of backlash and apologized for his actions on social media.Â &#8220;I took down a post I made earlier today after reading some of the comments. It was a poor choice of memes and I saw how it was offensive. It came across totally wrong. I apologize,&#8221;Â he wrote. However, NASCAR still decided to send him to sensitivity training as a result. Denny Hamlin and his relationship with Kyle Busch Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin might have been teammates but the two were never really fond of one another. Both drivers were aggressive and outspoken and that often turned out to be a recipe for disaster. When they were at Joe Gibbs Racing, the two raced each other on track on multiple occasions and things did not always end up well. As Rowdy made the jump to Richard Childress Racing, neither of them had to pretend to be nice to the other in public since they weren&#8217;t teammates anymore. Early on in the 2023 season, Kyle Busch said that there was a lack of respect among drivers in the NASCAR garage, something that wasn&#8217;t the case back in the day. He did not take any names but the whole conversation was in light of Denny Hamlin intentionally wrecking Ross Chastain in the first Phoenix race of the year.Â &#8220;We have completely lost any sense of respect in the garage between the drivers at all. Thatâ€™s where the problem lies. Nobody gives two ***** about anybody else. Itâ€™s just a problem where everybody takes advantage of everybody as much as they can. Weâ€™re all selfish, granted. But there was an etiquette that once did live here,&#8221;Â he said. Kyle Busch did not leave Joe Gibbs Racing on the best of terms and while some may speculate that Denny Hamlin may have one of the reasons, there were a lot more pressing matters. Money and performance were certainly a lot higher on that list than a teammate. Feb 20, 2022; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) drafts with driver Kyle Busch (18) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports Denny Hamlin embraces his â€œvillainâ€ crown Denny Hamlin has been branded as the new villain of NASCAR and he has embraced that title with open arms. One of the people who he had some beef with in the 2023 season is Kyle Larson. The two raced hard in the final lap of the first Kansas race of the season for the lead. With just one turn remaining, Hamlin made slight contact with Larson which nudged him into the wall. Thankfully, the HMS man was able to maintain his composure but Hamlin had passed him for the lead by then and he won the race. The two drivers had a tense moment in Pocono, however. When the race restarted with less than 10 laps remaining. The two were battling for the lead and Hamlin pushed Larson up the track and into the wall. After the race, the HMS driver expressed his dissatisfaction with his JGR counterpart with a seething tirade. â€œIâ€™ve been cost a lot of good finishes by him throughout my career, and I know he says I race a certain way, but I donâ€™t think Iâ€™ve ever had to apologize to him about anything. So, not that Iâ€™m sure heâ€™s going to say sorry after this, but it is what it is,&#8221;Â he said. Turns out the HMS man was frustrated with both his racing and how Hamlin is on the Actions Detrimental podcast. Being booed everywhere he goes and branded as NASCAR&#8217;s villain may be unnerving to some people but Denny Hamlin has embraced the dark side.Â â€œI think there was a time to uh reel that back in but I just think that thereâ€™s no going back at this point,&#8221;Â he had said about the matter. Denny Hamlinâ€™s plans for retirement Denny Hamlin is 43-years-old in 2023. A lot of people may suggest retirement is on the horizon for the JGR man but given Hamlin&#8217;s attitude, he has shown zero signs of even thinking about hanging up his boots. The #11 driver signed a multi-year deal with Joe Gibbs which will start from the 2024 season. It is safe to say that NASCAR&#8217;s villain is here to stay for a few more years. After all, the hunger for winning the Cup Series is yet to be satisfied. Denny Hamlin Social Media  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DennyHamlin/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dennyhamlin/  Twitter https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin  Personal Information  Name Denny Hamlin  Born November 18, 1980  Place of birth Tampa, Florida  Nationality American  Education Manchester High School  Parents Dennis Hamlin, Mary Lou Clark  Height 6 ft  Weight 154 lb  Partner Jordan Fish  Kids Taylor James Hamlin, Molly Gold Hamlin  &nbsp; &nbsp;

“From That Point I’ve Been Hooked” – Michael Jordan Reveals Long-Standing Interest in NASCAR

What else did Michael Jordan say?