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Denny Hamlin explains origin of 23XI Racing team with Michael Jordan

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•04/29/24•

SamraSource

Michael Jordan
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan currently own one of the top up and coming race teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, and it’s a fascinating road they traveled to get to this point.

Joining Frank Walks, presented by Barstool Sports, Hamlin took some time to elaborate on the origin of his 23XI Racing team, and how he convinced Jordan to join him in this venture. It’s a testament to Jordan’s love for the sport, and how a fake-headline truly got the ball rolling for Hamlin.

“I didn’t realize that his mom and dad used to take him to the NASCAR races when he was a kid, with his brothers and sisters. He went to Darlington, he went to Talladega, he went to Charlotte. A lot of the tracks that we go to still today. So that grew his passion for racing,” Hamlin started, explaining Jordan’s passion. “Basically, I was in the middle of COVID, kicking around some tires with some speculative team owners, and I wanted to purchase a stake, a minority stake in a race team, but I wanted to control the competition. The business side of that team. I never was gonna get the control I really wanted.

“So it just so happens, the rumor mill gets started. And then there’s a fake news article that comes out that says, ‘Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are looking to purchase a stake in Richard Petty Racing.’ Well, that’s fake news. I was doing it, but not him.”

Evidently, Hamlin decided to send Jordan the article to have a laugh with his friend, but he got more then he ever bargained for.

“So I debated and I sent him this article, and I said, ‘Hey, it looks like we’re going into business together,’ and he says, ‘Haha, that’s obviously fake news, but if you want to make it real news, let me know.’ And so immediately, I stopped,” Hamlin explained. “I’m like, ‘Okay, what do I do now? What’s my next move?’ I said, ‘Well, what do you mean?’ He says, ‘Well, are you going to be a team owner or not?’ I said, ‘Given the right situation, yes.’ He says, ‘Well, if you want a partner, let me know.’ I said, ‘Okay, when can you meet?’ I called up my agents.

“I said, ‘Hey, I need a business plan put together, how we’re going to start a race team, and I need it within 48 hours, because I’m flying down to Florida and meet him.’ They worked day and night, came up with the business plan, how we’re going to make it work, showed it to him. He said, ‘Listen, I love it. But this has got to go through my people, and that’s gonna take some time.’ So for the next month and a half to two months, his group vetted it and looked it over, and said we’re in.”

And now, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are winning races together as co-owners of 23XI Racing. It’s funny how it works, but in the end, it’s obvious it all worked out for the team, and the dream Hamlin had of being a co-owner.