In the 2024 season, the sun is setting on one NASCAR team. And it is Stewart-Haas Racing. The team was fumbling after its two veteran drivers left post-2023, and now rumors about their up-for-sale charters are afloat. But SHR’s declining status throws up opportunities for other teams. Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing is one of the possible buyers if SHR happens to put up its charter for sale.

23XI fields Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 and Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota. But a third driver has peeped into the scene time and again. Now the team hopes to turn its fleeting third car into a permanent fixture. However, the prospects seem bleak, as an official recently proclaimed.

Michael Jordan’s team president scales down excitement for another 23XI car

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan created 23XI Racing, a small team with big ambitions, in 2021. Despite their two charter teams, they have fielded a third car three times now. Last season, Travis Pastrana drove the No. 67 non-charter car in Daytona, while Kamui Kobayashi took the same car to Indianapolis. The Japanese star driver appeared at this year’s COTA race as well, driving the No. 50 car.

Now, Corey Heim is on the cards to wield the same car in Nashville. However, these temporary runs are not enough to push 23XI to the winning circles and towards further expansion. Hence, fans wanted a permanent charter car to be on the cards for the Michael Jordan team. But in a recent pre-race interview at Darlington, 23XI president, Steve Lauletta, poured water on any hopes.

The press asked Lauletta how close Michael Jordan’s team was to acquiring a third charter. The president replied in three words: “We’re not close.” He then added, “because everything right now is what ifs and maybes, and who knows until there’s a charter agreement.”

Then Lauletta pinned his hopes on this possible agreement for advances in the problem. “So that’s the key, that’s what needs to happen, and that’s what I know everybody’s working hard and focused on doing. So that at the end of this year there are charters, and we have some to then talk about and see what the future plays out to be.”

For now, 23XI Racing is plenty excited to host their next third driver in an upcoming race in June.

Heim’s entry coincides with the sponsor’s 50th anniversary

A few days back, 23XI Racing announced that Corey Heim will compete in the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota in the Nashville Cup race on June 30. The third car’s number was changed from 67 to 50 as part of a larger global celebration for the Mobil 1 brand to commemorate its 50th anniversary. “I told them that we could run it as the 50 car,” Lauletta said.

Steve Lauletta further shed light on this coincidence, having high hopes for Corey Heim to do justice on the occasion. “We are thrilled to put him in one of our cars and have him run as a driver in his own car…He’s spent some time with us in our facility and we are thrilled to get him to hop in the 50 car with Mobil 1, and help continue to celebrate their 50th anniversary.”

As 23XI keeps searching for its third charter, Corey Heim prepares to make the team proud in Nashville. The 21-year-old has only driven at the 1.333-mile track twice, that too for the Craftsman Truck Series. With his best finish being 4th, how do you think he would do there driving a Toyota Camry XSE?