Racing 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan says driver Bubba Wallace has the talent to “learn how to win” in this year’s NASCAR Cup Series.
The team founded by basketball legend Jordan and Joe Gibbs, Racing driver Denny Hamlin, has crashed into the Daytona 500 on Sunday, hitting a stop after 15 laps after a 16-car pileup and a water delay at Florida motorway center.
Wallace, meanwhile, avoided crashing from the rear after his # 23 car failed twice, and then crashed early after suffering a tire failure after contacting the old driver. Derrike Cope soldiers.
In an exclusive interview with Fox Sports, Jordan explained that he felt Wallace could finally break his Cup duck and visit Victory Lane, after missing out on winning the second Duel race on Thursday. .
“I feel like he’s learning how to win,” Jordan said.
“He has the talent. We wouldn’t have invested in him if he didn’t have the talent to win.
“By the end of the year, I think he’ll have a chance and maybe at least win a couple races. If it’s bigger, I’ll be tired.”
Jordan admitted he was both excited and anxious about the upcoming 2021 season.
“I’m excited. I’m embarrassed, even if I don’t get in the car. The thing is, when you’re preparing to play a big game, you’re nervous but you have control.”
He later said: “It’s a different kind of embarrassment. Nervous when I’m on the court – again, I can go back. I can go on fire. I can play defense. Here, all I can do is rejoice. “
“I thought [becoming a team owner] so many different times because I have never seen a black owner or someone with color who was really a team or who could confirm what happened to their team.
“Of course, we hadn’t been very visible in this sport, but you were never given the opportunities.”
Hamlin’s hopes for the new team just show improvement over the season.
“Our team needs to get better,” he said. “I just want to see from the start of this season to the end of the season that the arrow goes in the right direction. “
Wallace also spoke of NASCAR’s efforts to become a more inclusive environment, having risen to prominence outside the racing world when it became the square voice for social justice last summer.
He directed the accusation to ban the Confederate flag, a symbol of the states that withdrew from America in 1860-61 after opposing the abolition of slavery, from NASCAR races.
In doing so, he became a target of many right-wing voices, including former President Donald J. Trump.
Wallace also ran the Black Lives Matter paint scheme at Martinsville, following the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police department.
“I thought it was definitely a start,” Wallace said of NASCAR’s drive to be more inclusive.
“For years, I’ve been asked how do we get more minorities into the sport? I guess, ‘that’s a good question’ (and) that’s at the top of the NASCAR list.
“And then the flag of the alliance moved around. There is so much backlash against this flag from the small group that we are trying to attract. They are not going to be part of this until it is gone.
“I said let’s stand up, put our foot down right now. We’re opening the door for a whole new family to come in and enjoy our fun.”