Why Kurt Busch Was Picked Ahead of Bubba Wallace as a Sponsored Athlete by Jordan Brand?

When Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin joined hands to form 23XI Racing, many assumed the Jordan Brand will finally enter NASCAR. The young team signed Bubba Wallace as their only driver for the 2021 season, but the Jumpman sponsorship wasn’t there to be seen.

However, that has now changed as Jordan has finally signed as an official sponsor for the 23XI Racing team. And the world-famous brand has a new sponsored athlete as well, the ‘new’ driver, Kurt Busch.

Journalist Adam Stern reported, “Jordan Brand (@JumpMan23) has signed on as an official partner of @23XIRacing, and @KurtBusch will now be a sponsored athlete of the company.”

“Jordan Brand will run multiple primary paint schemes on the No. 45 Toyota this season and be an associate sponsor for other races.”

Busch being sponsored by Michael Jordan’s brand is interesting. One wonders why the other 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace, who is much younger, more popular, and with a long career ahead of him, wasn’t chosen by Jordan.

Why Bubba Wallace may not be sponsored by Jordan Brand in the future as well?

In their first season, with their one car driven by Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing was sponsored by Columbia Sportswear as an apparel partner. Wallace had carried forward this sponsorship from the time he was a driver for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2020.

So the Talladega winner probably didn’t want to end his association with the brand that has been with him on the ground and now that he is stepping up the ladder.

One other reason could be the rumors about Bubba Wallace starting his own clothing line in the future. And if or when that happens, Wallace would naturally be more inclined towards his own brand to sponsor him, as is the case with many drivers in motorsports.

But either way, be it Kurt Busch or someone else, the entry of the Jordan Brand into NASCAR is more important than who it sponsors.

This is simply because the weight and popularity of the brand are inarguably bigger than any current driver in NASCAR.

Also Read: Bubba Wallace Makes a Confession About Michael Jordan: “Makes You Appreciate Those Harder Years, Because You Get to Enjoy These Years Right Here”