NASCAR: Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin team confirmed with Bubba Wallace
By Asher Fair
Michael Jordan has purchased a NASCAR Cup Series charter and Denny Hamlin is set to be an owner of the team. Bubba Wallace is set to be the driver.
The biggest rumor of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season has been confirmed.
NBA legend Michael Jordan has purchased a charter from Germain Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who has had a relationship with Nike’s Michael Jordan Brand for several years, is set to be an owner of the six-time champion’s team.
Current Richard Petty Motorsports driver Bubba Wallace, who announced earlier this month that he wouldn’t be back with Richard Petty Motorsports behind the wheel of the #43 Chevrolet next year, is slated to be the driver.
Tonight, I’m excited to announce MJ and I are starting a new, single car @NASCAR Cup Series team for 2021. Deciding on a driver was easy - it had to be @BubbaWallace. pic.twitter.com/nIJv0X6ZOX
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 22, 2020
This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I believe is a great fit for me at this point in my career. I’m grateful and humbled that they believe in me and I’m super pumped to begin this adventure with them.
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) September 22, 2020
🤘🏾
BW https://t.co/q5tCyiurpi
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Jordan’s spokesperson previously stated that there was “no truth at all” to the rumor of him investing in a Cup Series team, but that was specifically pertaining to him investing in Richard Petty Motorsports, a rumor that emerged several weeks ago.
As for Jordan’s previous comments that he was not interested in owning a Cup Series team, there ended up being much more to the story. Everything about the team is yet to be confirmed, but given Hamlin’s involvement, it will likely be a Toyota team.
While there is a rule that drivers who compete for a four-car team, as Hamlin does, cannot own a separate car, NASCAR president Steve Phelps recently indicated that this rule was in place to prevent the other car from effectively becoming an organization’s fifth car.
As for Germain Racing, they had been rumored to sell their charter after longtime primary sponsor GEICO confirmed that they would not be back on the #13 Chevrolet, which is currently driven by Ty Dillon, next year. This news confirms that they won’t be back next year.
Statement from Bob Germain on the future of Germain Racing: pic.twitter.com/3TbVwyfzRZ
— Germain Racing (@GermainRacing) September 22, 2020
Wallace has competed full-time in the Cup Series since 2018 after making his debut in 2017 as the replacement for the injured Aric Almirola at Richard Petty Motorsports. He has recorded three top five finishes and nine top 10 finishes, including a career-high finish of second place in the 2018 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, in 105 career starts.
The 26-year-old Mobile, Alabama native is in the midst of a career year through 29 races. After two finishes of 28th place in the championship standings, he now sits in 23rd with a career-high five top 10 finishes and a career-high average finish of 20.5.
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Last month, Wallace was offered a deal to compete for Chip Ganassi Racing next year, but earlier today, it was confirmed that Ross Chastain is set to drive for Chip Ganassi’s team next year as Matt Kenseth’s replacement behind the wheel of the #42 Chevrolet, turning all eyes to Wallace since it was evident that he had something else lined up.