{"id":1539852,"date":"2022-11-26T09:19:13","date_gmt":"2022-11-26T14:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1539852"},"modified":"2022-11-26T09:19:14","modified_gmt":"2022-11-26T14:19:14","slug":"michael-jordan-denny-hamlin-turned-faulty-report-into-23xi-racing-nascar-cup-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/michael-jordan-denny-hamlin-turned-faulty-report-into-23xi-racing-nascar-cup-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin Turned a Faulty Report Into 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Michael Jordan<\/a> had already made one deal with Denny Hamlin<\/a> a decade earlier, but that was a simple endorsement. The NBA legend didn't intend to go into business with the NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> driver in 2020 until the two major sports figures were practically goaded into it by bad reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Jordan already knew his way around NASCAR<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Denny
Denny Hamlin looks on during the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway on June 5, 2022 in Madison, Illinois. | Sean Gardner\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s difficult to grow up in North Carolina and not follow NASCAR. Most racing teams set up their shops there, and the industry is a significant part of the economy. Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington and watched enough racing over the years to become familiar with the big names. Thus, it shouldn\u2019t have surprised people as much as it did when he made Denny Hamlin a Jordan Brand endorser in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other than seeing each other on some race weekends, Hamlin and Jordan didn\u2019t have a lot of contact over the years, though they had friends in common. For one, Brad Daugherty was Jordan\u2019s teammate for two seasons at the University of North Carolina in the early 1980s and was now involved in NASCAR as an owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And though neither Jordan nor Hamlin would ever play the sport professionally, they shared a love of golf. It was a chance decision by Hamlin on the golf course that set the wheels for 23XI Racing in motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A faulty report led to Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin launching 23XI Racing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

When MJ met Denny. The story of how Michael Jordan teamed up with Denny Hamlin to start @23XIRacing<\/a>. Voiced by @bobpockrass<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/OU0r6jlu4T<\/a><\/p>— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>