Basketball legend Michael Jordan has agreed to purchase a NASCAR Cup Series Charter. Bubba Wallace will be the driver for Jordan and his partner Denny Hamlin when the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season begins.
Jordan, widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time and current owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, will be the majority owner of a NASCAR Cup Series team. Wallace, the series’ only Black driver, previously announced earlier this month that he would not return to Richard Petty Motorsports.
Hamlin will be a minority owner of the single-car team and is expected to remain a driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Growing up in North Carolina, my parents would take my brothers, sisters, and me to races, and I’ve been a NASCAR fan my whole life,” Jordan said in a news release. “The opportunity to own my own racing team in partnership with my friend, Denny Hamlin, and to have Bubba Wallace driving for us, is very exciting for me. Historically, NASCAR has struggled with diversity, and there have been few Black owners. The timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more.
“In addition to the recent commitment and donations I have made to combat systemic racism, I see this as a chance to educate a new audience and open more opportunities for Black people in racing.”
The organization’s name, manufacturer affiliation, car number, sponsors, and other details would be announced later. The group is reported to have entered an agreement to acquire the team charter from Germain Racing, which currently fields the No. 13 with driver Ty Dillon.
For more information: nascar.com.
