When Denny Hamlin got caught up in a wreck triggered by his 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace, the co-owner of the up-and-coming team couldn’t have been more frustrated with the end of his day at the GEICO 500. Coincidentally, Michael Jordan was also present at the Talladega circuit for the grand race. This makes Hamlin’s misery funnier when we consider how the #11 JGR driver had labeled his co-partner to be the bringer of ‘bad luck’ at every race he visits. Fortunately for 23XI Racing’s fate, Michael Jordan had the last laugh, as Tyler Reddick crossed the line to secure the first win of the season.

Michael Jordan playfully hits back at his co-owner

As the drivers came into the pits and Tyler Reddick sprayed champagne, Michael Jordan was one happy team owner. After breaking the ‘curse’ of poor results for 23XI Racing anytime the NBA Legend was on track, Jordan took the opportunity to hit back at Hamlin’s comments. He shared with FOX, “Denny keeps saying I was bad luck when I came to the track, and today we proved him wrong. Actually, he did a good job by wrecking so we can get up front. That was actually pretty good.”

And just like that, Jordan was the one who had the upper hand on his teammate, all owing to his resilience through each race that the legend has attended so far. But moving on to the man of the hour, Jordan was delighted at his drivers and team’s forms.

He shared, “ I think that Tyler did a good job. Unfortunately, Bubba couldn’t finish, but the whole team did a good job, and look, I’m very happy to be here. Everybody tells me when we’re going to win we can have a good celebration, but this is the first time I’ve been here, and to my wife and kids and everybody, I’m sorry I left you at home.” 

After attending six races in the past and facing tough luck in terms of seeing a 23XI Racing car in victory lane, Jordan finally got the opportunity at Talladega Superspeedway. For the 6x NBA champ, 23XI Racing’s valiant efforts were reminiscent of his glory days with the Chicago Bulls. Though other icons of Jordan’s stature may have pulled out of the game after the running got rough, his ability to stick it out with his team had finally been rewarded with a deserved victory.

The 61-year-old team owner concluded, “ I am so ecstatic, obviously for the fans who support the sport itself and you know, we’ve been working hard trying to get ourselves up to where we can compete against all the top guys in the sport but we’ve done a heck of a job just to be where we are, and for us to win a big race like this, I mean it means so much to me and for the effort that the team has done.” 

However, if thought it’s all fun and games, you’re sorely mistaken as the pressure of handling a NASCAR team is much more than one can imagine!

Jordan believes his days in NASCAR are more stressful than back in the NBA!

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For a star like Michael Jordan, everything he does is with full commitment. In the past, Jordan led the Charlotte Hornets, which were then called the Bobcats as a part-owner and head of Basketball operations, meaning he’s always been involved with competition, even if he isn’t in the playing XI.

Speaking of which, the 23XI co-owner made a hilarious revelation about his time as a team owner in NASCAR compared to his glory days in the NBA. The 61-year-old stated; “Look, I’m all in, I’m all in. I love it, it replaces a lot of the competitiveness that I had in basketball, but this is even worse because I have no control! If I was playing basketball, I would have total control but here I have no control. So I live vicariously through the drivers and all the crew chiefs and everybody, so I mean I’m very happy for 23XI, 110%.”

Even though Michael Jordan may not have direct control over the race outcomes, his input as a sporting icon has been vital for Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick’s development. That said, at least it’s safe to assume that the Michael Jordan curse which Denny Hamlin speaks of has finally been lifted!