RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - APRIL 18: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Root Insurance Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 18, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Kurt Busch to 23XI Racing in 2022 NASCAR season?
Shane Walters
Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan look to be expanding their NASCAR team for the 2022 season
23XI Racing shocked the motorsports world in the off-season. Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin teamed up to create the new organization.
Within a few short months, the team took shape. Their first car was delivered to the shop from Joe Gibbs Racing, just a month ahead of Daytona.
Denny Hamlin had previously expressed interest in expanding his new team to two or more cars. Toyota has also hinted that the team would expand.
An expansion in 2022 would be cheaper than usual. NASCAR Next Gen car will be in full swing. The spec chassis will drastically cut development expenses as every car in the field will be near identical with the exception of the body.
This weekend, Hamlin was asked to provide an update on the 23XI Racing expansion.
“Still working on some things,” Denny Hamlin stated from the media center at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of moving pieces that has to go into it. I think we’re still progressing. Just don’t have a timetable for it.”
Hamlin was asked what driver he was looking for.
He responded simply, “A good one.”
Bubba Wallace is still somewhat new to the sport. Veteran drivers tend to work better for a team in development. But, things change a bit when that startup team is already tied to Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hamlin explained, “I don’t know. I think that I’m teammates with Bubba so he’s already got that. I don’t think that we necessarily have to have that because he’s got me, Martin and Kyle that work very, very close with him.”
He added, “We’re in the same meetings. I don’t know if there’s a benefit or detriment either way, but certainly I look at a lot of different things when it comes to who a prospective person could be.”
Bubba Wallace has made 14 starts with the new team. So far, he has a best finished of 11th which he claimed two weeks ago at Dover International Speedway.
Kurt Busch to 23XI Racing?
Kurt Busch started the 2021 season with a cryptic video. It hinted at his retirement from the sport.
On Saturday, The Athletic reported that 23XI Racing will be adding a second car in 2021. They also detailed Kurt Busch as the top prospect for the new car.
The 42-year-old is in the last year of his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Busch commented this weekend that he hasn’t had any contract discussions with Chip Ganassi Racing or 23XI Racing. He explained that those talks would take place this Summer.
Kurt Busch’s contract limits him from talking to other teams. That expires in June.
Busch has spent 22 years at the NASCAR Cup Series level. In 734 starts, he’s collected 32 race wins and the 2004 NASCAR championship.
He made the move to Ganassi in 2019. Since then, he’s collected 14 top-5s and two race wins.
Busch has never driven for a Toyota team. Previous teams have fielded both Chevrolet and Ford machines.