23xi – Motor Sports Racing

The 23XI Racing team is a NASCAR team founded in 2020 and first featuring in the DAytona 500 in 2021. It is co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and this is where the team name stems from, 23XI is pronounced twenty three -eleven is a reference to Jordan's iconic number 23 jersey that he wore during his career in the NBA and the number 11 car that Denny Hamlin Drives in the Cup series. ( although it is actually for Joe Gibbs Racing at the moment) The team was officially announced in September 2020 after rumors over the summer of that year, and it made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 season at the Daytona 500. They bought the charter from Germain Racing, which ensures they had a starting place in the 2021 season. The team fields the No. 23 Toyota Camry with driver Bubba Wallace, who is the only full-time Black driver in the Cup Series. Prior to joining 23XI Racing, Bubba Wallace had driven for Richard Petty Motorsports, where he had a best finish of second place in the 2018 Daytona 500. With 23XI Racing, Wallace has the opportunity to compete with a team that has the resources and backing to help him become a consistent front-runner in the Cup Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, and is supported by a group of experienced NASCAR personnel. Its crew chief is Mike Wheeler, who has worked with several high-profile drivers in the Cup Series, including Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth. In addition to its on-track performance, 23XI Racing has also been active in promoting diversity and inclusion in the sport. The team has partnered with several organizations that work to increase access to racing for people of color and other underrepresented groups. Including most recently promoting GoLiveBetter an important initiative that aims to address healthcare disparities in the African American community. 2021 Season Debut 23XI Racing's debut season in the Cup Series got off to a strong start, with Bubba Wallace running well in the Daytona 500, until a last lap crash dropped him down to a 17th place finish. There were some issues in the beginning of the season but a 5th place at pocono, and a 2nd place in the return to Daytona and then the first win coming at Talladega Superspeedway and becoming only the second African-American to win in the NASCAR Cup Series. With the successes of the 2021 season the team announced that they had hired the veteran driver Kurt Busch to join the 23 of Bubba Wallace. Kurt Busch drove the 45 for the 2022 season until the effects of a crash ruled him out for the remainder for the season. He was replaced, mostly, by Rookie Ty Gibbs for the rest of the season. For the 2023 season, with the retirement of Kurt Busch, Tyler Reddick was brought in to replace him a year early and will drive the 45 car for the season. Overall, 23XI Racing is a young team with a lot of potential. With the backing of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and the talent of Bubba Wallace and now Tyler Reddick behind the wheels, the team is well-positioned to improve on their first two seasons in the top flight of NASCAR. And with its commitment to diversity and inclusion in and out of NASCAR, the team is helping to bring new fans and participants into the sport. Team Name23 XIFounded2020First Race2021 Daytona 500LocationMooresville, North CarolinaTeam OwnerMichael JordanDenny HamlinCurrent Drivers and NumbersBubba Wallace (23)Tyler Reddick (45)Travis Pastrana (67)NASCAR Cup Championships0Total Daytona 500 Wins0Total Cup Series Races92Total Cup series Wins3Total Cup Series Pole Positions1Website23XIRacingAs of February 2023 Links to other Teams Tables. 23xiFront Row MotorsportsHendrick MotorsportsJoe Gibbs RacingJTG Daugherty RacingKaulig RacingLegacy Motor ClubLive Fast MotorsportsRFK RacingRichard Childress RacingRick Ware RacingSpire MotorsportsStewart Haas RacingTeam PenskeTrackhouse RacingWood Brothers Racing