At a post-race press conference held in Michigan, Denny Hamlin was asked about the significance of having Michael Jordan involved with 23XI Racing. Jordan, an iconic figure in global sports and one of the most accomplished athletes of all time, is currently co-owner of the NASCAR team alongside Hamlin.
Hamlin elaborated on how Jordan, following the $3 billion sale of his majority ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets NBA team last year, is channeling his competitive spirit through his ownership in the NASCAR team. Jordan was present for the Sunday race at Michigan, which had to be postponed to Monday due to unfavorable weather conditions. Unfortunately, the NBA legend could not stay to witness the conclusion of the race, which saw his driver, Tyler Reddick, secure a victory in overtime.
After the race, a reporter inquired if Hamlin, the other co-owner of 23XI, had received any communication from Jordan following the win. Hamlin confirmed, saying, “Yeah, I mean, he’s obviously very excited. Him coming to Michigan, he’s got a schedule of races that he’s going to be going to here, the Playoffs as well. This is a fun hobby for him, a fun business for him, right? This fills a lot of gaps of the competitiveness that he has lost by not being part of the Hornets anymore.”
Hamlin emphasized that Jordan is deeply focused on winning, and in their discussions and meetings, the primary topic of conversation is always about how to achieve victory. Hamlin shared further insights into his co-ownership experience with Jordan, expressing that Jordan allows him the freedom to manage the team according to his vision: “That’s really fun when someone who is such a big part of your team gives me the liberty to run this the way I see fit, make personnel changes the way I see fit, make hires for the future, giving me that autonomy. It’s just awesome and it’s why it’s working so well,” Hamlin stated.
Hamlin has previously spoken about the strong and supportive relationship he shares with Michael Jordan.
Earlier this year, in a conversation with former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, Hamlin, who races for Joe Gibbs Racing, opened up about Jordan’s unwavering support for his racing career and championship aspirations. Despite having competed in the sport for two decades and securing over 50 race wins, Hamlin has yet to clinch a Cup championship.
“He’s always been such a big supporter of mine. You can go back to video of him coming to Homestead when I’ve been part of the championship battle for years and years. He’s always attended. He’s gone out of his way to support me,” Hamlin recounted.
The driver of the #11 car revealed that Jordan has consistently provided him with motivation and guidance to keep him focused on his goals. However, Hamlin also acknowledged that Jordan understands the drive to win must ultimately come from within Hamlin himself. As Hamlin put it, “If I don’t want it as bad as it takes to win, then winning a championship would not be a possibility.”
This season, Hamlin has already achieved three victories, the most he has secured in the Next Gen era at this point in the season. With 23XI Racing performing exceptionally well, this could very well be the year Hamlin finally wins a championship, either as a driver or as a team owner.
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