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“Kurt Busch Wins” – Denny Hamlin on the Simple Reason Why the Veteran Driver Is a Jordan Brand Athlete

Published 05/16/2022, 11:15 AM EDT

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A recent announcement from Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s team, 23XI Racing, let us know that Kurt Busch will now be a Jordan Brand-sponsored athlete. And, the team commemorated the new sponsorship by running a new, Air Jordan III Black Cement-inspired livery on the #45 car.

However, the announcement left many fans wondering why Bubba Wallace wasn’t the one getting the deal.

USA Today via Reuters

The livery got very mixed opinions, which were majorly negative. Despite that, it was the livery of the car that got Kurt Busch his first win of the season, at Kansas. Perhaps, the Jumpman decal lent his car some speed.

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Anyway, the co-owner of 23XI Racing Denny Hamlin explained in a post-race interview why Kurt Busch is the right person for the Jordan Brand sponsorship.

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Denny Hamlin Explains Why Kurt Busch Is The Right Person For The Sponsorship Deal With Michael Jordan

There are still many people wondering why Kurt Busch got the deal instead of Bubba Wallace? Although, there are a couple of other reasons such as Bubba Wallace’s pre-existing sponsorship with Columbia. Denny Hamlin tells us the all-important reason for the #45 getting the deal.

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Denny Hamlin reveals the main reason in a press conference. A reporter asked him, “Did you have to convince Michael (Jordan) at all like, hey, put your brand on a car of a 44-year-old veteran, instead of maybe the younger, hot shoes?”. To which, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver replied, “No, because the fact is- Kurt Busch wins. It doesn’t matter about any previous history at this race track. We know when we show up, if we’ve got a fast car, he is capable of winning. And, that’s what I saw in Kurt Busch.”

Could he, in a way be targeting Bubba Wallace‘s inability to win a race so far? Hamlin then added, “I told him, step 1 before we talk about how we’re gonna fund it, how we’re gonna do it. I need you to drive it.”

Hamlin also complimented Kurt Busch as a teammate when he said, “He is such a team player, I had heard things about Kurt from his peers. And I had interviewed three of his previous teammates,” “Every single one of them, all 3 of them said he is the best teammate I’ve ever had.”

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Finally, what matters the most for any company to sponsor a driver is whether they can win. And, that’s what matters to Michael Jordan too.

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Written by:

Hetul Katyal

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Hetul Katyal is an F1-NASCAR web stories creator at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing his degree in Journalism from the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, he is an avid supporter of Carlos Sainz and Scuderia Ferrari. Hetul always looks forward to the paddock going to Baku, but the part of F1 that excites him the most, is seeing the drivers tackle the 'Raidillon' at Spa.
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