Reubyn Coutinho is a Combat Sports editor at EssentiallySports with over 2 years of journalistic experience. Having earned his bachelor's degree in Mass Media with a specialization in Journalism from Xavier's College, Reubyn has interned with the sports desks at DNA and Times Now before joining EssentiallySports to further his passion for sports content. 
Reubyn has interviewed former UFC champions like 'Mighty Mouse' Demetrious Johnson and Miesha Tate. He has also had candid chats with the sport's rising stars like Marcus Almeida and Sage Northcutt. Before moving to the editorial team, Reubyn primarily covered UFC and was on the desk for events such as UFC 249, UFC 251, and Daniel Cormier's retirement bout at UFC 252. As someone proficient across the board, he has also written for the F1, NBA, Boxing, and NFL divisions. Away from his professional pursuits, Reubyn is a film aficionado and loves engaging in discussions about movies.

Last year, the 23XI Racing team was born, with Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan as co-owners. Around that time, the fledgling organization recruited Bubba Wallace to drive the #23 car. Naturally, one would think that it is incredible that a legendary athlete of Jordan’s caliber is your team owner. However, Bubba Wallace has confessed that he is not starstruck. He said [https://theathletic.com/3532850/2022/08/24/bubba-wallace-12-questions/?source=user-shared-article], “Nah, never was. Like people think, ‘Oh man, you race for (Michael Jordan)!’. Yeah, it’s cool, but… MJ’s tequila company, Cincoro, we had a party in Nashville for Friday night when we were there for that weekend. George Kittle was there. We were just sitting there talking and MJ walks by, and he’s like freaking out. He’s going nuts. I was like, “Yeah. That’s MJ.” Like my man was going nuts.” READ MORE: Kevin Durant And Bubba Wallace’s $60 Million Bet to Make Tech Sector More “Racially Diverse” [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-basketball-news-kevin-durant-and-bubba-wallaces-60-million-bet-to-make-tech-sector-more-racially-diverse/] WHAT ELSE DID BUBBA WALLACE SAY ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN? The driver also confessed that Michael Jordan himself had a bit of a fanboy moment at the party. Apparently, when ‘His Airness’ was mingling with Bubba Wallace and other guests, he spotted Kittle was off in the crowd. That was when the Chicago Bulls legend kind of fanboyed a little, while Wallace was a bit calmer. Bubba Wallace [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-03-12T202127Z_1182255176_MT1USATODAY17881081_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-RUOFF-MORTGAGE-500-PRACTICE-QUALIFYING.jpg]Mar 12, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) during qualifying for the Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports So Jordan walked up to the San Francisco 49ers [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/] tight end and Bubba Wallace introduced the two. From there, the two athletes struck up a conversation right there itself. Suffice it to say, George Kittle was incredibly thankful, and Michael Jordan [http://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/michael-jordan/] was the same. While all that was going on, Wallace [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/bubba-wallace/] was nonchalantly sitting and thinking, “Oh, that’s MJ. That’s Kittle. Cool.” Now, the #23 driver is looking forward to the upcoming race weekend at the Daytona International Speedway. He is right on the verge of qualifying for the Playoffs, and Daytona is a happy hunting ground for him. Last time out at the Daytona 500, he came extremely close to winning the race, which would check off a huge bucket list item. Now, he is hoping to go one better this weekend. WATCH STORY: Bubba Wallace Exposes The Sad Truth About America [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-exposes-the-sad-truth-about-america/] 

23XI Racing's Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace made a rather brutally honest
confession about his team's owner, Michael Jordan.

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author 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.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv_George.png

Dhruv George

NASCAR: Go Bowling at The Glen!

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Bubba Wallace's full celebration after winning at Talladega Superspeedway | NASCAR ON FOX

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“It’s Cool, But…” – Bubba Wallace Makes a Brutally Honest Revelation on
Billionaire NASCAR Boss Michael Jordan

“It Ruined My Enjoyment” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals His Disdain From
Manufacturers Influencing and Compromising His Race

Will Michael Jordan Pull Out of NASCAR if $60 Million Lawsuit Fails?

Denny Hamlin Warns of Consequences Owing to Flawed Playoff Structure Amidst Joey
Logano’s Championship Hunt

Kyle Busch’s 2 Year Old Daughter’s Open Declaration of Chase Elliott as “Her
Boyfriend” Has NASCAR Fans Melting

Dale Jr Claims Chevy’s $400,000 Loss for Martinsville Manipulation Not Enough to
Stop It’s Embarrassing Tactics

<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

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23XI Racing's Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace made a rather brutally honest confession about his team's owner, Michael Jordan.

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"It's Cool, But..." - Bubba Wallace Makes a Brutally Honest Revelation on Billionaire NASCAR Boss Michael Jordan

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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

“It’s Cool, But…” – Bubba Wallace Makes a Brutally Honest Revelation on Billionaire NASCAR Boss Michael Jordan

What else did Bubba Wallace say about Michael Jordan?