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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 26: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 26: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Sporting superstars Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan have cultivated a friendship that goes back many years from the present day. Their mutual admiration and trust naturally also contributed to the NBA legend becoming the owner of NASCAR team 23XI Racing.
Both Hamlin and Jordan share a common passion for golf and have played with one another quite a few times. In a recent interview with NASCAR’s media crew, the three-time Daytona 500 winner was asked who the better golfer was.
Hamlin had originally stated, “Hmm, definitely not Bubba. But me and Jordan, I mean we used to play even, I mean he owns the golf course now, he plays a lot of golf.”
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I’d say Michael Jordan with a slight edge, said Denny Hamlin
“Listen I’m the workhorse on this deck and team, so he’s probably got to give me a few strokes now. So, I’d say Jordan with a slight edge.”
But Hamlin later came out with a tweet and changed his answer, probably following a good golf game in his favour! His post’s caption read, “I revise my final answer after the spanking I put on him in Daytona. #stillwinning”
I revise my final answer after the spanking I put on him in Daytona. #stillwinning https://t.co/e2zOtBsVFQ
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) February 26, 2021
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has made the first move now. But considering people know how competitive Mr. Jordan is, one would imagine the next golf game between the pair would certainly be eventful!
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Hamlin leads the table heading into the Homestead-Miami race
Although it has been just the two rounds so far, the JGR No.11 has taken a 12-point lead over nearest contender Joey Logano in the Cup standings. That he starts on pole for the Homestead-Miami Race only sweetens his chances of retaining that position and displaying his title credentials.

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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, prepares to start during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, his co-owned team 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace has had a mixed bag of results so far. After a 17th at the Daytona 500, he did not have the best of days, securing a bottom half finish at the road course variant.
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Therefore, both Hamlin and Wallace will be keen to further along their respective objectives. But a good finish for both him and his venture would give Hamlin the perfect racing weekend.
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