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FORT WORTH, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Covert Auto Group Chevrolet, walks on the grid during the Salute to Veterans Qualifying Day Fueled by The Texas Lottery for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Covert Auto Group Chevrolet, walks on the grid during the Salute to Veterans Qualifying Day Fueled by The Texas Lottery for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
One of the biggest deals the new Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin NASCAR team 23XI Racing has managed to crack is an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. Many look at it as Bubba Wallace effectively driving a fifth JGR car in the upcoming 2021 NASCAR season, like the Team Penske-Wood Brothers Racing alliance, for example.
However, Jordan, Hamlin, Wallace, and 23XI Racing are here to run up front consistently, in tune with Jordan’s clear message of “no running in the back if we’re doing this thing”.
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A JGR driver himself, Hamlin promised Wallace in the build-up to the new season that he will not be put behind the other JGR cars on the priority list. Hamlin called them all part of the ‘same household’.
“He (Hamlin) was like, ‘It’s not gonna be – the four JGR cars and then you. We’re all in the same household’,” Wallace said during a recent interview with NBC.
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SPARTA, KENTUCKY – JULY 12: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, races Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
How Denny Hamlin is further mentoring Bubba Wallace at 23XI Racing
Wallace admitted that Hamlin has already taken up the role as the No. 23 car driver’s mentor. “We had a good conversation. He told me, ‘If something isn’t right, you come to me’,” Wallace said of his conversations so far with the team’s co-owner.
He further hailed Hamlin and his vision for 23XI Racing. At the same time, he looks forward to ‘competing’ against the No. 11 car driver. It will be a whole new experience this time around due to Hamlin’s association with the team Wallace will drive for.
“It’s been cool watching his vision. Denny’s got a wild imagination, he plays a massive role. It’s gonna be interesting competing against him,” Wallace expressed.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 17: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Will Wallace live up to all the expectations?
Recently, Hamlin also spoke about his expectations from Wallace in the team’s debut NASCAR Cup Series season. Of course, he wants to build a winning driver and car sooner than later. However, Hamlin also understands the transition phase for a new team.
Hamlin’s main goal for Wallace is constant improvement. He wants to see Wallace get to a point where he becomes a ‘legit competitor’ and believes he can win.
Bubba Wallace’s first task will be to prove his skills at the season-opening Daytona 500. Interestingly, Denny Hamlin will be his biggest challenge there as the veteran driver is already a three-time winner of the iconic event.
READ MORE – Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Team: Name, Driver, Net Worth, Sponsors, and All That We Know
