23XI Racing

23XI Racing, pronounced twenty-three eleven, is an American professional auto racing team competing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Founded by basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin, the team’s name combines Jordan’s iconic No. 23 from his NBA career and Hamlin’s No. 11, which he has driven throughout his Cup Series career. Fielding the No. 23, No. 45, and No. 50 Toyota teams, with drivers such as Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and others, including Kamui Kobayashi, the team operates with a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing.

HISTORY 

23XI Racing was founded in 2020 by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. The team name “23XI” combines Jordan’s iconic jersey number (23) with Hamlin’s racing number (11) to form the team’s name, pronounced as “Twenty-Three Eleven.”

The team made its official NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 season, with Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 car. Wallace. The formation of 23XI Racing was a notable moment in NASCAR’s efforts to diversify and broaden the appeal of the sport.

23XI Racing quickly expanded, adding a second full-time entry for the 2022 season with Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 car. This expansion demonstrated the team’s ambition and commitment to becoming a competitive force in NASCAR.

One of the significant milestones for 23XI Racing came when Bubba Wallace won his first Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2021. This victory was not only a major achievement for Wallace and 23XI Racing but also marked a historic moment as Wallace became only the second African American driver to win at NASCAR’s top level.

NASCAR CUP SERIES 

In its inaugural year, 23XI Racing faced the typical challenges of a new team in a highly competitive environment. Despite these challenges, the team achieved a notable highlight when Bubba Wallace secured his first Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2021.

Kurt Busch’s addition paid dividends early on, as he captured a win at Kansas Speedway in May 2022. Last week on GEICO-500 Tyler Reddick took this legacy forward and won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

CARS, DRIVER AND CREW CHIEF