Michael Jordan is in his second year as a NASCAR team owner and despite the issues that come from being a new team, he’s been somewhat successful. Along with Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing won its first race last year as Bubba Wallace won a rain-shortened Talladega race.
Expanding to a two-car team in 2022, the team added Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and the Chicago sports fan made quick work getting into victory lane, winning at Kansas in an Air Jordan sponsored Toyota.
It's gotta be the shoes. 🏁👟
RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE KURT BUSCH ON HIS WIN AT KANSAS!@23XIRacing | @Jumpman23 pic.twitter.com/nfqwG0YQ4P
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 15, 2022
On top of the win and getting in a position to make the playoffs, Kurt got an added bonus with the victory. Talking with ESPN’s Marty Smith back in February, Kurt revealed that he had a Michael Jordan rookie card that he gave to MJ to sign but instead of getting it back, he told his car owner to keep the card and “when we win together, I get it back.”
https://twitter.com/23XIRacing/status/1496893040060940290?s=20&t=4IyN9xDHvFYGOHT38EwNzQ
“Here’s the deal I made with MJ. I said, ‘You sign this but you keep it, and when we win together, I get it back.’ He says, ‘Deal.’”
It took until May but not only did Kurt get the win, he’s going to get his Jordan rookie card back with MJ’s autograph. Not a bad day on the track.
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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