Toyota Racing photo via AP / NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan have partnered to form 23XI racing, which will run the No. 23 Toyota Camry in Cup Series competition next year in its debut season.CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Jordan expects to field a winning team when 23XI Racing begins NASCAR competition next season. A possible move toward victory lane came as the team announced its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota.
The basketball legend partnered with current Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin as new team owners and will field the No. 23 for driver Bubba Wallace, who is departing Richard Petty Motorsports after this season. The formation of 23XI – pronounced twenty-three eleven, it combines Jordan’s jersey number and Hamlin’s car number – was completed in September, but the final pieces weren’t confirmed until Friday.
Joe Gibbs Racing won last year’s Cup Series championship with Kyle Busch, and both Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. are in contention for this year’s title with two races remaining. Hamlin has driven for Toyota and JGR since 2008, so an alliance with any other manufacturer would have been a significant conflict of interest.
“My main goal for 23XI Racing is to be competitive for a championship as soon as possible,” Jordan said. “Our partnership with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing gives us the equipment, resources and expertise to do it.”
JGR is the flagship Toyota team and considered one of NASCAR’s top organizations. JGR has won five Cup Series titles since 2000 and last year celebrated a banner season in which its four drivers combined to win 19 of 36 races.