WATCH: Kurt Busch unveils new Jordan Brand paint scheme for Kansas Speedway
It’s even more beautiful than we could’ve imagined. Finally, Jordan Brand will be taking center stage as a NASCAR sponsor, as 23XI Racing unveiled a sweet Air Jordan III “Black Cement” inspired paint scheme gracing Kurt Busch‘s No. 45 Toyota at Kansas Speedway this Sunday.
Check out the creative announcement of the paint scheme, posted on social media by 23XI Racing on Thursday.
It hasn’t been a dream season for Busch during his first season driving for Michael Jordan, but his car this weekend is certainly one to remember. There isn’t a better paint scheme for the former NASCAR champion to get his first win for 23XI Racing in, and Busch has come close at Kansas before — finishing fourth when the circuit took their talents their last October.
At the moment, Busch is 21st in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. It’s been an adjustment period for his team as he’s racing with Toyota for the first time in his career, but it’ll only take one win to lock the savvy veteran in the playoffs.
Nevertheless, it’ll be fun to see Kurt Busch driving his No. 45 Jordan Brand inspired hot rod on Sunday. Michael Jordan will have a smile on his face when this car takes the green flag at Kansas Speedway.
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Furthermore, Kurt Busch has done it all in NASCAR. He won the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Drove to victory in the 2017 Daytona 500. He has the most career starts among active drivers. But now he’s driving for Michael Jordan.
While Busch has been around NASCAR for almost his entire life, Jordan is in the midst his second season in the sport. After operating as a single-car team with Bubba Wallace as his driver in 2021, Jordan added Busch to his fleet as he expanded his operation, 23XI Racing.
Throughout his career, Busch has driven for some of the biggest names in motorsports. Titans of the sport — Roger Penske, Jack Roush, Tony Stewart and Chip Ganassi — entrusted Busch to find their operation victories. Now, Jordan is doing the same.
“It’s intimidating, but at the same time he demands performance,” Busch told PopCulture, regarding Jordan. “And that’s who I am. I love to pull from within and to bring that tenacity and to bring that drive each and every day to the racetrack or to the race shop. And it helps the others around me learn and give that same effort. And so it’s that right here, it’s right here in your soul where you push harder. Denny Hamlin’s the same way as an owner/driver.
“And so it’s a great balance all the way through with the ownership, with my teammate Bubba Wallace, and the way that Toyota is pushing us as well.”
Evidently, Michael Jordan is taking to NASCAR the same way he took to his basketball career. A legendary competitor, Kurt Busch will be looking to make the NBA legend proud in his foray into NASCAR at 23XI Racing.