NASCAR: 23XI Racing hit with disappointing news for 2022
By Asher Fair
23XI Racing had been in talks about a charter purchase with Front Row Motorsports for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, but that will not happen.
23XI Racing had been eyeing expansion for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season since even before the 2021 season, their first in the series, and they confirmed their expansion plans over the summer.
Bubba Wallace is set to return behind the wheel of the #23 Toyota for a second season, and Kurt Busch is set to join the team as the driver of a new second entry, the #45 Toyota.
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Busch currently competes for Chip Ganassi Racing, which will be acquired by Trackhouse Racing Team, another new team for 2021, after the 2021 season ends.
Trackhouse Racing Team currently run the #99 Chevrolet for Daniel Suarez and will add the #1 Chevrolet, the Chip Ganassi Racing entry currently driven by Busch, for Ross Chastain, who is currently Busch’s teammate behind the wheel of the #42 Chevrolet.
Unfortunately for 23XI Racing, their expansion hasn’t been as straightforward as that of Trackhouse Racing Team. When they confirmed the addition of a second car and Busch as the driver of that car, they did not have anything to announce in regard to the purchase of a charter.
As the rumors indicated, they were indeed involved in discussions with Front Row Motorsports about purchasing one of their two charters; Front Row Motorsports currently run the #34 Ford for Michael McDowell and the #38 Ford for Anthony Alfredo. It was believed that they would sell 23XI Racing the charter they use to run the #38 Ford.
In fact, a report emerged earlier this month that a deal was done, but not yet announced.
Denny Hamlin told the media today that both a charter for the No. 45 23XI Racing team and a crew chief for Kurt Busch are set. No further details shared.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) October 3, 2021
But now it has been confirmed that a deal for a second charter with Front Row Motorsports will not happen for the Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan-owned team.
Sources indicate 23XI tentative deal for a charter from Front Row has collapsed, as Front Row has walked away from final talks. One option for 23XI likely is to talk with Spire, which is expected to have at least two charters in 2022. FRM could remain two-car Cup team in 2022.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 13, 2021
But Hamlin isn’t giving up hope, and while he is disappointed by the fact that the Front Row Motorsports deal fell through, he admits that things such as this are all part of being a team owner at NASCAR’s top level.
Denny Hamlin is disappointed the deal with Front Row to obtain a charter for 23XI Racing has fallen through. He describes next steps and the team approach. He says the team will race two cars next year no matter whether it has one charter or two: pic.twitter.com/I2DHBApIUk
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 17, 2021
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So will 23XI Racing do what JTG Daugherty Racing have done this year and run one chartered entry and one non-chartered entry, or will they find a way to get their hands on a second charter? If they land a second, which team will be the seller/lessor?