Is Kurt Busch’s Retirement a Blessing in Disguise for Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Team & Bubba Wallace?

After a year with just Bubba Wallace at the wheel, 23XI Racing expanded to two cars in 2022. The driver Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan recruited to join Wallace was none other than Kurt Busch. Safe to say, this was a stroke of genius on the owners’ part, because Busch is talented and the 2004 Cup Series champion. Additionally, he boasted of a lot of experience, so his inputs would have been highly valuable for the organization. Unfortunately, his career was cut short midway through the 2022 season, owing to an accident.

That accident at the Pocono Raceway left him with a concussion, and in 2023, he announced his full-time retirement. Since then, he has remained in the 23XI Racing stable, working closely with the team.

Meanwhile, his successor Tyler Reddick, has already started strongly and is proving his mettle, along with Bubba Wallace.

Bubba Wallace was thrilled to link up with Kurt Busch

As per a recent report from reviewjournal.com, Wallace said of the partnership, “I was excited to have Kurt on board and learn a lot from him. Just the way his mind works and the little things he looks out for every weekend. He brings in a perspective you never think about. It was tough. But at the same time, he’s embracing where he’s at right now. He feels like he has a different objective and goal to fulfill, and that’s to prep Tyler and I for the races coming up.”

In essence, Bubba Wallace acknowledged that Kurt Busch was an excellent mentor. It is also worth mentioning that he was Wallace’s first teammate in the NASCAR Cup Series. This is because he had been driving in single-car teams since 2017 when he joined Richard Petty Motorsports. This continued until his first season with 23XI Racing, but from 2022 onwards, he has had a teammate.

READ MORE: Kurt Busch Savors Younger Brother’s Lightning McQueen Moment With His Own Version of a Photo Finish

The 2004 champion was happy to contribute to the team’s meteoric rise

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Speaking about 23XI Racing’s progress, Kurt Busch himself said, “I feel like my time is worth the effort and that there’s more to do. We want to keep pushing towards being one of those top elite teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports or Team Penske. We’re right on the heels of those top three teams.”

In these past couple of years, the senior Busch has been very happy with the organization. His experience has been a godsend for 23XI Racing, as his inputs would have been translated into the car. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick have been delivering handsomely for the team. Last year was probably 23XI Racing’s best-ever campaign, with both drivers reaching the Playoffs. Considering the team is at an all-time high, the question has to be asked: Was Kurt Busch’s retirement a blessing in disguise for 23XI Racing?