23XI Racing is surely on fire right now, with both of its drivers performing exceptionally well. Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 is blazing a trail with hot prospects for the playoffs, and Bubba Wallace is looking solid to steer his No. 23 into the postseason. Even the No. 50 Toyota, brought out for special occasions, has seen some unique faces this year. Truck Series star Corey Heim took the wheel in Nashville, much to the delight of fans, all leaving Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin thrilled with their ownership journey.

But what more updates on their third car? Enter Kamui Kobayashi, the Japanese motorsports icon who recently drove it at Circuit of the Americas. Now, another legendary name is about to take control of the No. 50—Juan Pablo Montoya. The versatile racer, celebrated across NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1, is joining 23XI’s fold.

And his reason to join 23XI Racing? It’s simple: Michael Jordan’s team reignited his passion for racing.

Michael Jordan and Co. up for the Montoya magic

The NASCAR legends from yesteryear still pop up in throwback headlines. However, only a few have stuck around. The 7-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has competed for the past two seasons after a two-year break from the Cup Series. Although JJ could not warm up to the Next Gen car, his mere presence was a crowd-puller.

And, with Juan Pablo Montoya taking the wheel for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, a similar fan-favorite situation is expected to unfold at Watkins Glen International on September 15th.

Juan Pablo Montoya announced his return to the Cup Series after 10 long years. Michael Jordan’s team was enthusiastic about the Columbian star racer, and that was all it took to convince Montoya. And, as he finally agreed to take the Cup wheel, he shared how the 23XI Racing president, Steve Lauletta, called him and stirred his interest. “Steve Lauletta called me and said, Hey, will you be interested in doing Watkins? I said, Oh, that’ll be fun! Honestly, it was pretty much that, I thought it would be pretty cool. I’ve always enjoyed running at the Glen, to be honest, we always run well there in Cup. I’ve been to the Glen many times with IMSA, with IndyCar,” shared Bob Pockrass on X as he quoted Juan Pablo Montoya.

Montoya holds 12 starts at Watkins Glen, having competed in four different series. Further, his NASCAR resume is impressive—he boasts one win (2010), a pole award, and three top-fives in the Cup Series. So the veteran racer may easily live up to Michael Jordan’s winning attitude in the 23XI fold. Montoya admitted that Jordan’s confidence in his racing prowess convinced him. “An opportunity like this comes along, and I think I can still be really competitive, and have a shot at it.”

Further, it was his deep love for the racetrack that made Montoya’s hands itch for some NASCAR wheels. He last competed in the Brickyard 400 in 2014 with Team Penske, and even mentioned, “I thought I’m pretty much done, to be honest, happy not to race anything else again, I was comfortable. But the thing is, people forget why race…I race because I love racing. I always had passion for racing, and I always wanted to go well…So why not?”

Montoya’s phenomenal resume speaks for itself, as he has had a decorated career outside of NASCAR as well. His achievements have reached the silver screen.

The Columbian racer’s career 

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Juan Pablo Montoya left a blazing trail in whichever racing series he went. He began his motorsport pursuit in karting in Bogotá, Colombia, and he displayed a rare blend of raw speed and tactical genius. His breakthrough came in the 1990s, and he clinched the CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) championship in 1999. Montoya is a two-time Indy 500 winner and three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona and has won several F1 Grand Prix events. He is also a two-time winner at NASCAR’s Cup level with wins at road courses Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen.

So no wonder Michael Jordan and his team are inducting this genius racer, whose life work was adapted into a documentary series recently. The Ntertain Studios announced the release of the unscripted series “Montoya: Speed and Legacy” in May.

Executive producer Santiago Zapata disclosed some bubbly emotions regarding portraying the Columbian racer’s story. “Juan Pablo Montoya was my and many fellow Colombians’ introduction to Motorsports, but what has always inspired me the most about him is his never-back-down attitude and his resolution to succeed against all odds. This underdog story about perseverance and commitment to a craft will inspire audiences regardless of age and nationality.”

Now this racing legend is set to dazzle NASCAR audiences with his comeback. Let us see if the versatile racer will be able to maneuver the Next Gen car’s nitty-gritty under 23XI Racing’s care.