Michael Jordan doesn’t shy away from any odds. But his impulses to up the stakes can’t be fulfilled in his racing business. Jordan’s 23XI Racing begins the 2024 NASCAR season with the Daytona 500 on Monday, 4pm ET. NASCAR’s first points race of the season comes right after a spectacular Super Bowl night (with infamous stories of Jordan threatening NFL pros to not make him lose money) and the Jordan Brand-sponsored NBA All-Star Game.

It’s back-to-back thrills and wagering odds for sports fan. But not so much for His Airness. Daytona 500 has expanded its fan engagement through fantasy leagues and events. But this expansion directly restricts the 23XI mogul. As of 2020, NASCAR implemented a policy that prohibited drivers, owners, crew members and officials from betting on NASCAR races. Additionally, they were barred from giving inside information to others.

Forbes revealed that NASCAR is leaning towards responsible sports betting in recent years. As online sports gambling is gaining traction, leagues are regulating it to improve the fan experience. Accordingly, NASCAR became the first sports league to partner with the American Gaming Association in 2021.

As exciting it is for fans to get involved in the action, 23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan won’t be able to partake in it. All he can do is play the role of a leader and watch from the stands. Not that MJ would mind winning from the sidelines.

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The odds are leaning towards Michael Jordan’s team

Jordan fans who want in on the NASCAR action would have to tread just as carefully. It’s very difficult to make predictions based off the unique nature of Daytona racing. However, some online odds put greater odds on Denny Hamlin, the 23XI co-owner, to make a top 3 finish. This is just going by his history of winning Daytona 500 thrice, one of the highest in NASCAR history. Hamlin is one of just 4 drivers to have back-to-back Daytona 500 victories.

His fellow 23XI racer, Bubba Wallace has been Jordan’s star since signing with his team in 2020. He had established himself as an elite driver when MJ and Hamlin recruited him. But his career has since been on an upward trajectory, culminating in a playoff berth for the 31-year-old last season. Wallace has repeatedly dazzled at Daytona, including consistently finishing top 20 and finishing second in this course twice.

It’s not just MJ hoping he’d win but also NASCAR fans counting on Wallace to restore some of the excitement surrounding the Daytona 500. We’d have to wait and see what kind of role Michael Jordan plays in his team this season as Denny Hamlin leads from the tracks. What do you think 23XI’s odds are in today’s season opener?

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