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Billionaire Michael Jordan’s Fond Childhood Memories Made Him Splurge Millions on Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR Dream: “That’s How It Started”

Published 05/08/2023, 9:59 AM EDT

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NBA legend Michael Jordan has a penchant for spending his enormous fortune. The Chicago Bulls legend has done it all, from friendly competition for money on his golf course to owning multiple sports teams including NASCAR 23XI. The billionaire’s inclination towards petty gambling is also well-documented in the NBA archives. Recently, 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin talks about Jordan’s involvement in fulfilling his and Bubba Wallace’s NASCAR dream.

Interestingly, 23XI Racing is a combination of the Bulls star’s number 23 jersey and Hamlin’s car number eleven. Just like the name, the two also compliment each other in the management of the team.

NASCAR’s Hamlin opens up about Michael Jordan

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Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players in the NBA league and the original sneaker revolutionary. However, he is not all about basketball. The billionaire has always shown an interest in other sports like Golf and NASCAR. In a recent interview with Randy Covitz of The Kansas City Star, his team 23XI Racing’s co-owner Denny Hamlin revealed how Jordan got involved in the sport to begin with.

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The race driver was in a conversation about 23XI’s success at the Kansas Speedway. They also talked about what Michael Jordan’s role might be in it. Hamlin expressed Michael’s passion for the team and that he is not just a namesake owner. He went on to talk about what sparked Jordan’s interest in the game and his management style. Hamlin said, “He’s a race fan first. His parents took him to NASCAR races when he was a kid, and that’s how it started. Now he’s our business partner.

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Jordan and his new boat

MJ’s co-owner is extremely satisfied with his approach to team ownership. However, he does not seem too sure of the NBA legend’s transient presence at the races. He continued to state the secret behind making this combination work. Hamlin claimed that the two in question have “different specialties” and the trust factor resides deeply between them, thereby helping the duo work successfully.

He went on to add that while Jordan occasionally visits the track to watch the races, but “he has a new boat so he’s traveling all over the world right now,” leaving Hamlin and rising star Bubba Wallace unsure of when they will see the Sneaker Master next!

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Hopefully, the 23XI retain their success streak!

WATCH THIS STORY: Denny Hamlin Takes Offence to Rumors of NASCAR “Boycott” Led by Michael Jordan’s Associate & Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon; Dives into Behind-The-Scenes

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Written by:

Ishpreet Kaur

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Ishpreet Kaur is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With a Bachelor's degree in Arts from the University of British Columbia, Ishpreet has developed a deep understanding of the intricacies of storytelling and writing. Her passion for the Toronto Raptors and their championship run in 2019 is evident in her writing, but she also brings a unique perspective to her coverage of the NBA as a whole.
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Edited by:

Siyari Debbarma