NASCAR: Another celebrity team owner on the way?
By Asher Fair
Following the addition of Michael Jordan and Pitbull as NASCAR Cup Series team owners, is the addition of another celebrity owner on the way?
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to see multiple new teams competing full-time, and two of those teams are co-owned by celebrities.
In September, it was announced that NBA legend Michael Jordan had partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin to start 23XI Racing, the team for which Bubba Wallace is set to drive the #23 Toyota.
In October, it was announced that former driver Justin Marks had started Trackhouse Racing Team, the team for which Daniel Suarez is set to drive the #99 Chevrolet. They recently confirmed the addition of musical artist Pitbull as a co-owner.
But we may not be done seeing celebrity team owners added to NASCAR for 2021.
More from NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
- NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500
There have long been talks about legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. fielding a car with The Money Team Racing, the team named after the lifestyle brand The Money Team, which he inspired.
Those talks began late in the 2019 season, and while they ultimately didn’t result in anything for the 2020 season, there is a growing belief that we will see Mayweather’s name in NASCAR for the first time in 2021 — and if not, definitely in 2022.
There are reports that the team plan to co-brand one of the two full-time Spire Motorsports entries in 2021 with the aim of making that car their own for the 2022 season and running it on a full-time basis using one of Spire Motorsports’ three charters.
Corey LaJoie is set to drive the #7 Chevrolet on a full-time basis while the #77 Chevrolet is set to be driven by multiple drivers throughout the season.
It was only recently confirmed that Spire Motorsports’ third charter came from JTG Daugherty Racing, meaning that they do, in fact, have three charters like they indicated when they purchased one from the now defunct Leavine Family Racing late last season. Their third charter is being used by Trackhouse Racing Team to run the #99 Chevrolet.
dark. Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time
Spire Motorsports entered the 2020 season with one charter, with that being the charter they purchased from the now defunct Furniture Row Racing after they folded following the 2018 season.