NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace has joined a new NASCAR Cup series team created by former NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
The 26-year-old Wallace had recently departed his Richard Petty Motorsports team and is NASCAR’s sole Black full-time driver while Jordan – who is also majority owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets – becomes the second Black team owner at its elite level. Hamlin, 39, will be a minority partner in the team while he continues to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing.
This year, Wallace successfully campaigned to get the Confederate flag banned from NASCAR races and the 57-year-old six-time NBA champion Jordan said the team would like to create opportunities for Black people in racing while also educating people.
“Historically, NASCAR has struggled with diversity and there have been few Black owners,” explained Jordan. “[But] the timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more.”
The new team will start racing in 2021 with their name, car number, manufacturer and sponsors to be announced at a later date.