Michael Jordan loves golfing. While he enjoys the sport, it has also become a medium that has helped him get into some ingenious business offers. One of the Chicago Bulls legend’s golf buddies is also a business partner in one of the most important ventures. By now, you might have already figured out about the person in question. Racing icon Denny Hamlin and Jordan teamed up to create the racing organization known as 23XI Racing. It competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. Before we discuss more about Jordan and Hamlin, let’s find out about how it all began. 

Their friendship began because of their shared love for golf. The duo were often seen enjoying golfing together. Of course, the media had their own role in this. 

How did Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin start the 23XI Racing?

Another venture that had captured both of their interest was owning a team in the racing world. When Hamlin expressed his wish to join an ownership group in NASCAR, the big media houses were quick to speculate about Jordan being his partner. Later, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver revealed that his partnership with Jordan was only confirmed after the fake news was spread by the media. So, maybe, rumors and speculation don’t always have a negative influence. Both Jordan and Hamlin were interested in buying ownership stakes in a NASCAR team. However, both failed to buy stakes in Richard Petty Motorsports which is now called Legacy Motor Club.

“Honestly, I got down to Richard Petty Motorsports, and that was a team I was looking to buy a minority stake in. But ultimately, I found that I wasn’t gonna get the control that I needed. The autonomy to really run it the way that I thought it needed to be run. So I’m like this isn’t the right fit for me either,” Hamlin said. That was just the beginning. 

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As per reports, His Airness invested $150 million as a majority owner to create 23XI Racing in 2020. On the other hand, Hamlin holds a minority stake in the organization even though, he enjoys more authority than a minority owner. The name itself pays homage to Jordan’s jersey no. 23 and Hamlin’s 11, a number of high significance in his career. Even in this field, Jordan is competitive about winning. He even offered a special gift to Hamlin’s father that gives us a glimpse of his competitiveness. 

Michael Jordan offered a cigar to Denny Hamlin’s father 

Hamlin’s father Dennis Hamlin shared the story of Jordan’s thoughtful and motivating gift during his appearance in Netflix’s “NASCAR: Full Speed”. He shared that Jordan gifted him a cigar along with a personalized message asking him to smoke it when they win a Championship.

“He pulls up in his Lamborghini, and he reaches down in his side door, pulls out this cigar,” Hamlin said. He further added, “Michael Jordan signed it for me and wrote a little letter (that) says, ‘Break it when we in the championship.’ I’m supposed to break that and smoke that cigar. That’s what I’m going to do.”

In 2021, the 23XI Racing debuted with Bubba Wallace flaunting the number 23, paying tribute to Jordan’s NBA jersey number. This year Tyler Reddick joined the organization and gained an impressive GEICO 500 win at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Last year, Jordan sold his ownership stake in Charlotte Hornets which certainly has allowed him more time and money to spend on the racing organization. Joking about it Hamlin said, “Certainly, he’s involved in more meetings. Now he wants to be on every branding e-mail.” “I’m like, ‘Oh boy, this could be interesting.’ So, yeah, I think he has some more time and perhaps he’s gonna use that more on the race team,” Hamlin shared in an interview with FOX NASCAR. 

MJ and Hamlin are surely giving their all to extend their friendship and see more success in their NASCAR venture. What is your take on the duo and their partnership? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.