Kurt Busch Reveals the Unfathomable Reason That Kickstarted Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Career

In the 22 years that he drove in the NASCAR Cup Series, Kurt Busch sat behind the wheel for many giants. Kicking off his career in the #97 Ford of Roush Racing, he moved to the likes of Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing before rounding off his career in the #45 Toyota of 23XI Racing. Through this adventurous run that he made, Busch also managed to clinch a Cup Series championship in 2004. Considered a true legend of the sport, the man of many cars recently came out with an interesting revelation involving his former boss and basketball legend, Michael Jordan.

Sitting together with former racer Kenny Wallace on his YouTube show “Kenny Conversation,” Busch talked about his late career move to 23XI Racing and what inspired him to join Jordan’s racing team.

The 3 phone calls that changed the mind of the man who had it all

One of the longest stops that Busch made in his career was with Chip Ganassi Racing. Driving the #1 Chevy of the now outfit, he was in his third full-time season when the news of Ganassi preparing to sell the team hit in 2021. Talking to Kenny Wallace, Busch revealed the runnings of his mind in those tricky times and mentioned how he was already satisfied with what he’d achieved and was thinking about retiring after the news.

He said, “When I was with Ganassi, Monster Energy was looking at moving the sponsorship to Ty Gibbs and maybe another driver was gonna take over. Then Ganassi sold the team it was like, “You know what? This is, this is, I’m good.” I’m satisfied with where everything ended up. You know, by winning Daytona late in my career. Winning a championship early in my career. […]”

The great finishes that Busch piled up in 2023 and his career as a racing consultant after getting out of the car were both sculpted by one factor: The phone calls that he received in the aftermath of Ganassi’s sale. Narrating the flow of events that followed when he was set to get out of the car after the 2021-22 season, Busch disclosed that the calls were from none other than Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan, and the director of Toyota.

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NASCAR legend convinces Kurt Busch to take the keys up once again

23XI Racing is a team that was born from the partnership of Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. When the duo signed Kurt Busch in 2021, he was brought on to pilot the newly formed #45 team. Talking about the unexpected calls that he received, Busch said to Wallace, “Those three wanted me to come and race for them and start a second car at 23XI. And I said, “Guys, I think I fulfilled everything that I wanted to do. But I’ll tell you what I did Kenny. I’ll tell you what I said. “Guys, thank you. Let me think about this.”

When Michael Jordan announced that he would be partnering up with a NASCAR icon to create a team of his own, the racing world was filled with speculations about who the drivers of his choice were going to be. Despite the hat landing on Busch’s lap, the driver did not let it get to him easily. He opened up about the words that NASCAR legend Mark Martin said to him, and how they inspired him to make the move.

Busch revealed, “I asked Mark. I go, ‘Mark, why did you stay in it so many years after you said you were gonna retire?’ And he says, ‘Kurt, because the phone kept ringing.’ I said, ‘Done, you got it. I understand, yes, sir!’ So I called Denny back, I called MJ back, I called the director of Toyota motorsports, and I said, ‘I’m in.'”

Busch had always been a driver who immensely helped build the teams that he has driven for. The roles that he played in solidifying the dominance of Stewart-Haas Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing were huge. Signing for 23XI Racing in 2021, he has continued to display the same efforts on and off the track. And to hear the story of his last gasp move is certainly intriguing. Let’s hope Jordan’s team continues to scale further heights with the support and guidance of the former Cup Series champion!

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