Having an NBA legend for a team owner surely feels different. Bubba Wallace had his career-best finishes this season so far – posting 5 top-fives and 10 top-tens. However, the No. 23 driver tends to talk about his struggles publicly. So Wallace bashed himself for not keeping up with his overachieving teammate, Tyler Reddick, who has two victories already.

However, former NBA champion and 23XI Racing team owner Michael Jordan was there to push him. After the Daytona events pushed Wallace back further in points, Jordan’s words may be all he would need to revamp his strategy for Darlington!

Michael Jordan’s golden words for his driver

“As you know this is NBA playoffs right now and to me, this is like an NBA playoff game,” Michael Jordan remarked after Tyler Reddick won at Talladega. Indeed, the six-time NBA champion brings all his basketball ideals to the 23XI Racing fold, and he had the perfect response to Bubba Wallace chafing about his winless season. On the Dale Jr Download, Bubba Wallace admitted he was “bummed, pissed off” after Daytona, feeling he did everything right, only for a new winner to change the game.

Then Wallace revealed the golden words that Michael Jordan had for his bleak scenario. “Things you want more, cost more.” And that prompted Wallace to turn over a new leaf. “All day yesterday and all day in the middle of the night, I’m just telling myself, you just gotta go out and have the best race you’ve ever had in your life. It’s just showing up, me doing all that. Take out the outside factors. That’s how I’m approaching it, and I woke up in a much better mood this morning.”

Indeed, Darlington Raceway would require Wallace to harness all his energy. The egg-shaped layout is a breeding ground for chaos, as if drivers are not already struggling to keep their championship dreams alive. “I think for Daytona you can get by with that, but I think if it was Darlington, I would have crashed lap 2,” Wallace claimed. But with Michael Jordan and a snazzy sponsor behind his back, he may just get into the playoffs.

Bubba Wallace will be carrying fans on his ride

Besides Michael Jordan’s evergreen inspiration, Bubba Wallace has other motivations to charge into the playoffs. Xfinity, the title sponsor of NASCAR’s version of Triple-A, is a key partner supporting the No. 23 Toyota team, playoffs or not. Besides featuring on the car at Martinsville Speedway for the Xfinity 500, this snazzy sponsor will also give Xfinity Rewards members a chance to shine on November 3rd. Approximately 500 fan photos will be on Wallace’s racecar via a sweepstake on the Xfinity Rewards website until Aug. 30.

Bubba Wallace accordingly spoke highly of his fan-favorite sponsor. “Xfinity is an iconic brand. They do some really awesome things so I appreciate them seeing the value in me and everyone at 23XI enough to come aboard and be on our car. Their schemes never disappoint. Last year’s selfie scheme was a huge hit, so it’s really cool to have it back again at Martinsville. I think it was a fan favorite last year and will be even more popular this year.” 

With these incentives, Michael Jordan’s driver is ready to go all out to secure his playoff spot again. “We have a little bit of extra work. And I’m excited to roll my sleeves up and do that.”