There is no doubt that Bubba Wallace must be under immense pressure with the Darlington race on the weekend. Either a win or an impressive performance can salvage him from being eliminated from the playoffs. Luckily for Wallace, he has his 23XI Racing boss Michael Jordan right beside him for all the morale support.

A sport like NASCAR is all about survival. With limited chances at their disposal, neither sponsors nor team owners can afford to give much time to a driver. However, Bubba Wallace has been a fortunate driver in that case. While his career graph is improving, some might have lost their patience given the speed of improvement. That said, Michael Jordan has believed in the Alabama-born driver, and Wallace recently repaid his faith in him.

How did Bubba Wallace relish Michael Jordan’s support?

Currently, Bubba Wallace is 21 points behind the playoff cutline. While it all comes down to the race at Darlington, the 23XI Racing driver is not out of the playoffs just yet. To overcome a disappointment on the weekend, Wallace has to perform better than Ross Chastain and Chris Buescher or go all the way for a victory.

It is easier said than done, especially given how tricky Darlington Raceway is. Having said that, Bubba Wallace’s form has been impressive this season. With five top-five and ten top-ten finishes in 25 races, he’s having the best season of his career. With 11 races remaining, it could only get better for the #23 driver, but nothing would mean much if he fails to qualify for the playoffs.

While Wallace’s P6 finish at Daytona helped his cause, an unexpected win for Harrison Burton changed the entire dynamics. While he was seemingly frustrated about missing out on performing better, Wallace appreciated how 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan supported him. As he confirmed on the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Jordan sent him a motivating message after the race. According to him, Michael Jordan said, “Things you want more, cost more.”

While the NBA legend’s words couldn’t be more true, Wallace revealed how important Jordan is to everyone at 23XI Racing. Speaking about his tricky playoff scenario, the 30-year-old said, “He understands the situation that we are in and he can see everybody fighting hard and doing what we need to do.” As he accepted how Jordan text messages him after every race, he sent a clear message to MJ’s doubters. In a 5-word claim, Wallace said, “He is very much involved.”

This comes after Michael Jordan has been interpreted as an absent owner in the past. Even 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin rubbished such claims earlier in April this year. Not only that, but there have been instances earlier that prove Jordan to be more than just a celebrity owner.

Michael Jordan sets the perfect example of how a NASCAR owner or celebrity should be

NASCAR is a massive industry, especially from an investment point of view. Given the huge numbers involved in the sport, it is only understandable why people around the globe have a vested interest. Having said that, these interests only encourage some owners to operate like a sleeping partner. While it is an individual choice, not many have benefited from it. The story of Gene Haas and Stewart-Haas Racing is the perfect example.

Luckily for 23XI Racing, Michael Jordan has a different approach despite being an outsider in the sport. In fact, he takes a keen interest in the team’s activities. As reported by Bob Pockrass in April this year, Tyler Reddick’s crew chief, Billy Scott, is in awe of him because of Jordan’s approach. He said, “I was talking to him before the race, and he watches every truck race, every Xfinity race, every Cup race just trying to learn and understand what we’re going through and figure out how he can help from the owner’s side. It’s impressive.”

There is no denying how passionate Jordan is about NASCAR. In fact, it was reflected in his speech after 23XI Racing was launched for the 2021 season. Back then, he said, “My passion drives me more than the financials. So if I invest or not invest, I’m going to call Denny [Hamlin] each and every Sunday to ask him what the hell is he doing? Is he going to win today? What happened on that turn?”

Michael Jordan added, “I’ve been a fan for so long. And I’m always going to be that. Making money or losing money, I’m going to be a fan of NASCAR. This is authenticity in the making for me that I’m involved in something that I truly, truly love and I wake up each and every weekend looking forward to each and every race.”

It is amazing how Jordan cherishes being part of the sport. More than that, the way he has stepped up and comforted his team’s drivers speaks a lot about him. While Bubba Wallace has struggled with mental issues earlier in his career, the presence of a Jordan-like figure would do him a ton of difference. Hopefully, it will help him make it count on Sunday and secure a place in the 2024 Cup Series playoffs.