Michael Jordan’s Team Principal Reveals the ”Wizard of Oz” Behind His NASCAR Team

When you hear the name Michael Jordan, you probably think of his accomplishments on the basketball court and owning 23XI Racing at NASCAR, but did you know that he is also a successful businessman? What most people don’t know is that he had a wizard behind the curtain who helped him become a successful businessman.

In the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download podcast, co-hosts Mike Davis and Kelley Earnhardt discussed the ownership group of the 23XI Racing team, which includes Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. They also talked about a man called Curtis Polk, who is considered the “mad genius behind the whole operation.”

“I mean, like just with their own leadership group, or their ownership group, between Denny and Michael, also you got Curtis Polk over there, who is this, I don’t know, he’s like this, I don’t know if hidden is the right word but like everybody looks at him as the, you know, the mad genius behind the whole operation.” said Mike Davis

Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals “Bucket List” Entry That Was Made a Reality by the Most Successful Non-American Stock Car Racer

When Kelley Earnhardt suggested “Who’s the guy in ‘Wizard Of Oz’ behind the curtains?”. Davis added “Right! He’s the wizard, right? Like he’s the guy. And he’s this brilliant business mind. Denny’s talked about him a lot when he’s been on the show, and we know that, he was Michael Jordan’s business guy, Michael Jordan done quite well in business for himself.”

The Man behind Michael Jordan’s billions: Meet Curtis Polk

Polk was Michael Jordan’s business guy, and he played a vital role in helping him build his business empire. Jordan has a net worth of $2.1 billion, and a significant portion of that wealth comes from his business ventures. Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets and 23XI Racing, has partnerships with Nike and Gatorade, and has his own brand, the Jordan Brand. All of these ventures have been successful, thanks in part to Polk’s guidance. Polk counselled Jordan succesfully in progressing the Jordan Nike Brand beyond Jordan’s playing career, and the brand has tripled in value since.

Polk co-owns the Charlotte Hornets NBA team with Jordan and serves as an Alternate Governor on the NBA’s Board of Governors. In addition, Jordan and Polk are both part of the ownership group of the championship E-Sports team, Team Liquid. He was instrumental in the 2019 launch of Cincoro Spirits Group and is a principal alongside Jordan and several other founding partners.

WATCH THIS STORY: Tyler Reddick Admits Michael Jordan Wasn’t “Expecting a Lot” From Him, But It Was a Ploy for the Best

His experience with Jordan’s NBA team has allowed him to highlight how other leagues share revenue, making him a disruptor in the world of sports business. This is especially important in NASCAR, which has struggled with declining attendance and TV ratings in recent years.