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“He Just Doesn’t Quite Understand”- NASCAR Insider Publicly Concedes Defeat as Michael Jordan’s Vision Overshadows Big Names

Published 09/17/2023, 12:19 PM EDT

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Competing against giants like Hendrick Motorsports, RCR, and JGR is undoubtedly a daunting task. However, young owners like Justin Marks, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch have significantly shifted the NASCAR landscape. These owners demonstrated their keen eye for talent. Brad Keselowski, for instance, consistently places his trust in drivers like Chris Buescher. And this is reflected in the outcomes.

NASCAR compels every team to adopt a winning mindset. It holds the authority to revoke a charter if a team finishes in the bottom three in owner’s points for three consecutive years. However, when they initially introduced a new team back in 2020, co-owner Michael Jordan unveiled an ambitious goal that a NASCAR Insider ridiculed at the time. Now, that very insider publicly acknowledges their impressive achievements. He feels effectively humbled by 23XI Racing‘s success.

NASCAR insider openly accepts defeat against Michael Jordan

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HMS, RCR, and JGR are indeed NASCAR supergiants. With their well-trained pit crews and advancements, they have a legacy that’s incredibly challenging to surpass. However, in the 2020 Daytona 500, 23XI Racing entered the scene as Michael Jordan announced his co-ownership of a team alongside three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.

Initially, some doubted Michael Jordan’s understanding of the complexities of NASCAR. However, he had a firm commitment to win. A NASCAR insider disagreed with Jordan’s ambitious claims, but recent events have proven him wrong.

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During the GoPRNLive show, Adam Alexander admitted, “I’m honest, I didn’t believe everything they were selling when they first had the press conference and announced the team. And said their expectation was to win. Because quite honestly, we just haven’t seen that in the history of the sport.”

Watch This Story | After Triggering Bubba Wallace’s Wrath for Harsh Criticism, Kyle Petty Makes Wild Joey Logano Claim

He continued, “I go back to Daytona 500 23XI starting out for the first time. They do sit down with Michael Jordan. And Michael Jordan who’s never really been accustomed to losing at anything, says ‘we want to win’. And I just kinda laugh because I thought you know here’s the guy, that maybe the greatest ever in basketball; but he just doesn’t quite understand how hard it is.”

However, since their introduction in 2020, Michael Jordan’s Bubba Wallace and 23XI Racing celebrated their first win in the team’s debut year at Talladega. Notably, Michael Jordan’s #45 team achieved remarkable success, winning three out of four races at Kansas with different drivers. In a relatively short time, what contributed to this swift success for the team?

Michael Jordan’s protégé reveals the mantra behind the success

Simply having fast cars can’t guarantee victory in NASCAR. With the next generation of cars, most vehicles share similar statistics and specifications. So, what truly makes a difference? It’s a combination of strategy and the entire team, encompassing the pit crew, crew chief, and the car itself.

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Bubba Wallace achieved a historic milestone by becoming the second African-American driver to win a race, after Wendell Scott. And this accomplishment was with Michael Jordan’s team. Wallace attributed their success to a few key factors. He said, “I think, just learning, having an open ear and open mind and listening to Denny. Listening to a lot of veterans we have on the team of steering the direction and trusting that process.”

“Having Booty (Barker) and Billy (Scott) lead that ship is really beneficial for that team. We have key people in the right areas to bring fast race cars,” Bubba Wallace concluded.

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However, despite these achievements, Wallace faces a challenge in securing his spot in the next round of the Playoffs, trailing by 19 points. What are your thoughts on whether Bubba will win the race and advance to the next round?

READ MORE: NASCAR Analyst Reveals the Dark Side of Michael Jordan’s Team As Bubba Wallace Becomes the Main Victim

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Written by:

Moinakhtar Akhunji

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Moinakhtar Akhunji is a NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. With a love for racing spanning almost a decade, he brings his passion and expertise to every article he writes. Growing up as an automobile enthusiast, he quickly developed a deep appreciation for the technical and competitive aspects of both F1 and NASCAR.
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