Back in 2020, Bubba Wallace was the first driver to be signed on to the brand new team 23XI Racing, which is owned by fellow driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Recently, Wallace revealed that back then, he received a call from the former Chicago Bulls star who had something important to tell him. Explaining the situation, Wallace said [https://www.insider.com/nascar-schedule-playoffs-bubba-wallace-2022-7?utm_source=Web&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=pr-core_%7C_ch-social+_%7C_ob-signups_%7C_tr-organic_%7C_dv-web_%7C_in-webflow_%7C_lp-23xi+Get+Pumped+Tuesday_%7C_dt-30.06.22_%7C_c1-Enter+Giveaway_%7C_c2-&utm_id=23xi+press], “Denny calls me and says, ‘What are you doing? I said, ‘Just sitting here on the couch.’ He said, ‘Here’s somebody who wants to talk to you.’ [in a deeper voice] ‘Hey, man. If we do this deal, there is no more running in the back.'” “And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s MJ! Oh, hey, man. How are you doing?!'” Reflecting on that message today, Wallace [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/bubba-wallace/] holds one race win [https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2021/10/04/bubba-wallace-earns-historic-first-nascar-cup-series-win/] at Talladega from 2021 and three top fives this year. Although, in the beginning, the team faced a few issues and so did Wallace. Even this season, with the brand new generation of cars and pit crew troubles, Wallace has struggled a lot. But everything seems to be slowly and steadily falling into place as time goes on. for Giving NASCAR “The Oxygen” It Needs [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-dale-earnhardt-jrs-co-host-pal-thanks-denny-hamlin-ross-chastain-for-giving-nascar-the-oxygen-it-needs/] Recently, Wallace received [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-christopher-bell-believes-his-pit-issues-have-been-worse-than-bubba-wallace-but-i-just-dont-make-a-lot-of-noise/] a pit crew swap with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. Ever since, we have seen a drastic improvement in Wallace’s finishing positions. BUBBA WALLACE NEEDS A WIN IF HE WANTS TO MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS Wallace is currently sitting [https://www.espn.com/racing/standings] in 20th and he desperately needs to clinch a win. With just a few remaining races this season, he has to get the win as soon as possible if he wants to get into his first-ever playoffs. Bubba Wallace [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-05T205216Z_855686372_MT1USATODAY17833891_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-PENNZOIL-400-QUALIFYING.jpg]Mar 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) during qualifying for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports There’s still hope for Wallace as out of the four remaining races, one of them is a superspeedway. Tracks like Michigan International Speedway, Richmond Raceway, and the iconic Daytona International Speedway still provide a sense of hope for him to grasp a win. Watch This Story: Aaron Rodgers Reveals Ex-Girlfriend Danica Patricks Role in His Viral First Tattoo [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-news-aaron-rodgers-reveals-ex-girlfriend-danica-patricks-role-in-his-viral-first-tattoo/] Even though Wallace has never won before at the Daytona race [https://www.insider.com/nascar-schedule-playoffs-bubba-wallace-2022-7?utm_source=Web&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=pr-core_%7C_ch-social+_%7C_ob-signups_%7C_tr-organic_%7C_dv-web_%7C_in-webflow_%7C_lp-23xi+Get+Pumped+Tuesday_%7C_dt-30.06.22_%7C_c1-Enter+Giveaway_%7C_c2-&utm_id=23xi+press], the chances this year are high, considering he has been rather successful at the track in the past. 

NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace reveals the surprisingly blunt message he received
from his team's co-owner and NBA legend Micheal Jordan.

Srijan Mandal is a NASCAR author at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing
his Master’s in Journalism and has been writing for his own blog, 'Noobs
Onboard', for a while now, covering NASCAR, F1, W Series, MotoGP, WRC and the
WEC. Following motorsports for more than a decade now, he has become a devout
supporter of McLaren Racing, Sir Lewis Hamilton, and Ayrton Senna. Not wanting
to restrict himself to just writing, Srijan also practices to take part in
professional open-wheel sim racing soon. Other than penning down his thoughts
about some of the most prestigious racing series in the world, he also writes
fine art & design content for his online art gallery; Artmoshai and produces
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“There Is No More Running in the Back..” – Michael Jordan’s Blunt Message That
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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ <em>"the duels".Â </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500? For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial &#8220;birthplace of speed&#8221;, Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races. Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America &#8211; ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx Origins of the Daytona 500 While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year. And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps. The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650. Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™ As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR&#8217;s crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven&#8217;t been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President&#8217;s Day weekend in every NASCAR fan&#8217;s heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President&#8217;s Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that&#8217;s definitely a win-win! While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn&#8217;t any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure. One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme &#8211; (ZUMAse4) Highlights of the Daytona 500 The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty&#8217;s father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions. &nbsp; Lee Petty&#8217;s son isn&#8217;t much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981. While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn&#8217;t see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison&#8217;s car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne. Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011. Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks. The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While &#8216;Captain America&#8217; famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event&#8217;s grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively. Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500 Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter. In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ &#8220;the duels&#8221;.Â The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels. The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt&#8216;s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt&#8217;s death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today. US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564Image Credits &#8211; Imago &nbsp; The changes of the name of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt&#8217;s passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that&#8217;s the very name that has stuck around. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace reveals the surprisingly blunt message he received from his team's co-owner and NBA legend Micheal Jordan.

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“There Is No More Running in the Back..” - Michael Jordan’s Blunt Message That Caught Bubba Wallace Off Guard

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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

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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;

“There Is No More Running in the Back..” – Michael Jordan’s Blunt Message That Caught Bubba Wallace Off Guard

Bubba Wallace needs a win if he wants to make it to the playoffs