Ever since its inception in 2020, one NASCAR Cup Series team has upped its game every single year. Yes! We are talking about 23Xl Racing – the brainchild of NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin and certified NBA legend Michael Jordan. The team has gained quite the momentum despite being one of the newest teams in the sport. However, things weren’t always this promising.

The #23 team with Bubba Wallace initially struggled to find the rhythm after a series of wrecks. It’s these sloppy performances that haunt the driver to this day, as haters often bring up his awful past ordeals. This is one of the reasons Wallace’s relationship with the fanbase is sort of complicated. However, it is not only the community that bashed the driver for his inconsistent ways, even his team boss, MJ, trolled him ahead of the 2021 Daytona race.

The Time Michael Jordan Took a Savage Dig at Bubba Wallace

The 6’6″ legendary Shooting guard has been an avid NASCAR fan. While growing up, Michael’s father would take him to the track, especially to Charlotte, Rockingham, and more. But little did the then-young Jordan know that after a few decades, he’ll get the opportunity to start a team with a veteran of the sport, Hamlin.

The 2021 Daytona 500 marked the debut of a $150-million team in NASCAR and the rise of a young talent alongside another NASCAR great Kurt Busch, driving the #45 Camry. Let us look back at the hilarious 2021 meeting between MJ, Denny Hamlin, with their NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace.

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During the interview, things took a funny turn as Jordan hilariously mocked Wallace for his height.

Before Jordan towered over the 5’6″ Wallace, he said, “I thought you would be taller.” Wallace was anyway excited to meet the legend. Meanwhile, the co-owner, Hamlin, was seen relaxed alongside Fox’s Michael Strahan, who joined them to talk about their hunt for success in 2021.

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While his presence at the pit booth makes a huge difference for the team, to get them more pumped up and tuned in, Jordan has also been vocal about his expectations. And this was evident in the same interview.

Jordan Is Still “In Control” Despite Not Sitting in the Car

2021 was a horrific year for Wallace. The driver kept on making amateur mistakes that cost him valuable points. It was not something that his boss, Michael Jordan, wanted. He made that very clear at the start of the season. In the interview, during some funny back and forth, we see Jordan take a sly dig at his driver. When Bubba mentioned, “At the end of the day they’re [MJ and Hamlin] ultimately in control because they’re the ones who are signing them checks,” hinting that the bosses have an equal part to play in a race, if not bigger.

Jordan, using the opportunity, put a hilarious message that gently dismissed Wallace’s comment. He responded, “The thing is, we don’t sign checks to losers,” while his co-owner Denny Hamlin laughed out loud, along with everyone in the room.

With a rather underwhelming 2021 season, Wallace could only manage the 21st spot on the table while his soon-to-be teammate, Tyler Reddick, got a decent 13th place with his #8 Chevy for RCR. With Reddick joining the team in 2023 and taking up the place of the elder Busch, it now seems the momentum is on their side as both of MJ’s drivers look very close to their first win of the season.

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