Michael Jordan Starting NASCAR Team With Bubba Wallace as First Driver

On Monday night it was announced by Michael Jordan and current driver Denny Hamlin that they would be starting a new NASCAR team that would have a car on the track for the 2021 Cup Series season. The first driver for that team will be Bubba Wallace. 

ESPN reports that Jordan will be the principal owner, while Hamlin will be a minority partner. Denny will also continue racing the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs racing. 

“Bubba has shown improvement since joining the Cup series, and we believe he’s ready to take his career to a higher level,” said Hamlin in a statement. 

Jordan also released a statement in which he relayed that he’s been a fan of NASCAR his whole life, and that now is a good time to get into the sport due to its embrace of “social change.” When reading this statement, note that Wallace is the only Black driver at the national series level competing in NASCAR full time.

“Growing up in North Carolina, my parents would take my brothers, sisters and me to races, and I’ve been a NASCAR fan my whole life. The opportunity to own my own racing team in partnership with my friend, Denny Hamlin, and to have Bubba Wallace driving for us, is very exciting for me,” Jordan said. “Historically, NASCAR has struggled with diversity and there have been few Black owners. The timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more. In addition to the recent commitment and donations I have made to combat systemic racism, I see this as a chance to educate a new audience and open more opportunities for Black people in racing.”