Hailie Deegan & a Disgraced Kyle Larson Were Favorites to Replace Bubba Wallace, After He Left for Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Team in 2020

When the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series campaign ended, Bubba Wallace parted ways with Richard Petty Motorsports. This was because he was set to join the newly-formed and lucrative 23XI Racing. The fledgling organisation was the brainchild of Wallace’s friend Denny Hamlin, and NBA legend, Michael Jordan. Naturally, the prospect of racing for Jordan’s team was too good an opportunity to pass up.

In response though, it did leave Richard Petty Motorsports in the lurch. The outfit even offered Wallace a brand new contract, but his mind was already made up. As a result, the team was forced to dip into the driver market and hunt for his replacement. It is safe to say that there were some interesting options on the menu to drive the iconic #43 car. RPM owner Andrew Murstein confessed that he was eyes drivers like Kyle Larson and even up-and-coming racer, Hailie Deegan.

READ MORE: Current Solution Is Deemed “Not Acceptable” as Kyle Larson’s Notes From Crunch NASCAR Meeting Strongly Back Denny Hamlin’s Radical Stance

What did he say about Kyle Larson or Hailie Deegan replacing Wallace?

He said, “ There’s different options for us if we want to continue our drive for diversity. I’m looking at drivers like Hailie Deegan, coming up through the ranks. I would have a heart-to-heart with Kyle Larson to see if he’s worthy of a second chance.”

At the time, Larson was indefinitely suspended, owing to off-track misdemeanours that put NASCAR in a bad light. The good news for him was that there were plenty of people lobbying for his reinstatement. In the end, Larson ended up in the clutches of Hendrick Motorsports, rewarding them with the 2021 Cup title.

Meanwhile, Deegan moved to the Truck Series for the 2021 season, after an impressive year in the ARCA Series. Of course, that didn’t mean that Richard Petty Motorsports was without a driver. Instead, they roped in Erik Jones from Joe Gibbs Racing, after he lost his seat to Christopher Bell. As for Bubba Wallace, he is currently in his second season with 23XI Racing and is enjoying life over there.

WATCH THIS STORY: Tom Brady Got a Special Message from “Weakest Link” Bubba Wallace Who Believed He “Should’ve Gotten the MVP!” at Pro-Bowl in 2021