Michael Jordan congratulates Bubba Wallace after clinching playoff berth at Daytona
It was a big day on track for 23XI Racing on Saturday night at Daytona, as driver Bubba Wallace earned enough points to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs. And it got Wallace a few congratulatory moments with team owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan.
After parking up following the race, Wallace came out to a throng of family, friends and team staff there to congratulate him. Among the thicket of hugs and handshakes was Jordan.
They shared a quick embrace before Jordan made the rounds, shaking hands and cajoling with pit crew members and other team staff.
And the six-time NBA champion is later in the video seen discussing the biggest news of the day at Daytona: the horrific crash that sent Ryan Preece tumbling through the air.
There was good news rather quickly as Preece climbed out of the car. He was then taken to a hospital for evaluation. Jordan and Wallace could be seen and heard in the video chatting about the wreck.
“How’s RP?” Jordan said. “Talk to him? That was pretty ugly.”
Wallace seemed to not have a clear idea, other than Preece had dodged any immediate and severe injury. Someone out of shot evidently tells Jordan a brief update, as he can be seen listening before coming to a simple conclusion.
“Man I’m glad I can’t fit in one of these,” Jordan said.
But he and the whole 23XI can rejoice in the fact that Wallace, one of their drivers, exceeds behind the wheel and will get a crack at the NASCAR playoffs now.
Preece was taken to the hospital after his scary wreck
Preece has been transported to a local hospital after getting into a wreck Saturday at Daytona, NBC reported. Racing in the Cup Series, Preece’s car spun out, caught air, and then flipped through the infield in what was a scary sight for onlookers.
Thankfully, the car landed on its wheels and Preece was able to get out and stand as the NASCAR AMR Safety team attended to him. It’s unclear at this point how severe his injuries are, but he’s getting whatever medical attention is necessary.
Preece ran into teammate Chase Briscoe as his car started to lift once it hit grass. It rolled over several times before coming to a stop as the safety team rushed to his aid. According to NBC, Briscoe is OK following the scary collision.
Preece was placed on a stretcher before he was loaded into the ambulance and taken to the care center to be evaluated following the wreck. Following the race, which Chris Buescher won, a number of Stewart-Haas Racing crew and drivers made their way to the center to check on him.