The worst kept secret in NASCAR’s silly season is official.
On Monday night, Denny Hamlin announced on Twitter that he and basketball legend Michael Jordan has purchased a NASCAR Cup Series charter from Germain Racing and hired Darrell “Bubba”
Wallace Jr. as their driver in a multi-year deal for the yet-to-be-named, single-car team beginning with the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Jordan, the current owner of the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Hornets will be a majority owner of a NASCAR Cup Series team when the charters switch hands following the Cup Series season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in November.
“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,” said Jordan. “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.”
Wallace, the series’ long African American driver is excelling in a career-best season driving for another legend, Richard Petty. Wallace announced earlier this month he would not be
returning to Richard Petty Motorsports next season saying he believed it was time for someone else to take over the reins of the No. 43.
While Jordan will serve as the team’s majority owner, three-time Daytona 500 champion will also serve as a minority owner of the soon-to-be-named race team.
Longtime friends, Hamlin has had an existing relationship with Jordan through the Jordan Brand.
“Starting a race team has been something that Michael and I have talked about while playing golf together over the years, but the timing or circumstances were never really right,” said the 39-year-old Hamlin.
“It just makes sense now to lay the foundation for my racing career after I’m done driving and also help an up-and-coming driver like Bubba take his career to a higher level. Plus, Michael and Bubba can be a powerful voice together, not only in our sport but also well beyond it.”
With the completed purchase of a NASCAR team charter from Germain Racing, Jordan becomes the first Black majority owner of a full-time race team in NASCAR’s premier series since NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Wendell Scott owned and raced his own car from the 1960s into the early 1970s.
Germain Racing will cease operations at the end of the 2020 Cup Series season.
As the sport’s only black driver, Wallace, 26, recently become a hot commodity for companies eager to become more diversified, including Beats by Dr Dre, CashApp, DoorDash, Columbia Sportswear and Urban Outfitters and is estimated to bring $14 to $18 million worth of sponsorship with him to Jordan and Hamlin’s new team.
“This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I believe is a great fit for me at this point in my career,” said Wallace, who is the first African American driver to race full-time at the NASCAR Cup Series level since Scott.
“Both Michael and Denny are great competitors and are focused on building the best team they possibly can to go out and compete for race wins. I’m grateful and humbled that Michael and Denny believe in me and I’m super pumped to begin this adventure with them.”
In a statement, NASCAR said, “We proudly welcome Michael Jordan into the NASCAR family, and look forward to watching Michael, Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace compete in 2021. Michael is an iconic sports figure and celebrated champion whose fiercely competitive nature has placed him among the greatest athletes of all time.
“His presence at NASCAR’s top level will further strengthen the competition, excitement and momentum growing around our sport. We wish Michael and his team tremendous success.”
The (team) name, car number, manufacturer, sponsors and other details for the team will be announced at a future date.
Entering Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Wallace has made 105 NASCAR Cup Series starts, all of them with RPM.
In 2020 alone, he has five top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place run in the regular season-season finale at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in August. He sits 23rd in the championship standings with seven races remaining.
Daytona is also site of his career-best Cup finish with a second in the 2018 edition of the Daytona 500.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
