NASCAR veteran Kurt Busch will drive for 23XI Racing, the team founded by Michael Jordan, starting in 2022.
Jordan launched 23XI in 2020 and signed Bubba Wallace, the Cup Series’ only Black driver, to drive the team’s No. 23 car. For 2022, 23XI is expanding to a second entry.
Busch will leave Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of this season to join 23XI, which was co-founded by current NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin.
“I cannot begin to express my gratitude for this opportunity,” Busch said in a news release. “Racing to win is what I live for. Helping to continue developing a new team, alongside Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Toyota is exactly what I want to be part of. Winning is important to 23XI, it’s important to (primary car sponsor) Monster Energy, and it’s important to me. That is our goal.”
Busch will drive the No. 45 car — which, like Wallace in the No. 23, aligns with one of the jersey numbers Jordan wore during his Hall of Fame NBA career.
Busch, 43, has won 33 career Cup races and won the 2004 Cup Series.
–Field Level Media