Joe Gibbs and Michael Jordan allegiance: $16M move sets Denny Hamlin free

Denny Hamlin has spent most of his career working for Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the sun may be setting soon, as Hamlin has other aspirations. Founded in 2020, 23XI is the brainchild of Denny Hamlin and NBA star Michael Jordan. The team took baby steps with drivers Bubba Wallace, Kurt Busch and Tyler Reddick. Five wins followed in the next three years and great progress was made. A lavish new office is one reason for the team’s rising status, and may also be a reason for Hamlin’s departure from JGR.

Denny Hamlin hints at parting ways with old team

Hamlin is known to be an extremely candid person. He held nothing back about the game and spoke candidly about NASCAR’s top brass. That brutal honesty extends to his team owner, Joe Gibbs. Hamlin recently sat down with Kevin Harvick and laughed off his owner’s comments about his ripped jeans.

Additionally, Denny Hamlin gave a powerful two-word answer to a question. If it were other drivers, they probably wouldn’t dare to answer. If they did, it would surely surprise fans and their team sponsors in particular. But Hamlin is Hamlin.

Harvick asked the question to bring the interview to a dramatic end. “Michael Jordan, Joe Gibbs – they’re both calling at the same time, which one do you answer first?” In response, Denny Hamlin smiled knowingly and replied: “Michael Jordan.”

Denny Hamlin has been between JGR and his team since 23XI’s inception. But at some point, Hamlin plans to turn his attention to his own team. As Hamlin and Jordan worked on the nuts and bolts of building a great racing team, they faced some constraints.

One of these is the technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. Crew and equipment had to be borrowed from JGR to assist 23XI. But that would soon be reversed, as Hamlin and Jordan both spent $16 million to build 23XI’s sleek new facility, Airspeed. This is the starting point for teams to have their own personnel and equipment. This move hints that Hamlin will leave JGR.

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin continues to acknowledge Joe Gibbs’ contribution to his growth as a racer and team leader.

Denny Hamlin praises Joe Gibbs’ charismatic personality

The 23XI Racing team was recently named to Sports Business Journal’s prestigious “Best Places to Work in Sports 2023” list. Racers are well aware of Hamlin’s contribution to this achievement. Tyler Reddick recently said, “Yeah, he’s always in meetings, always giving feedback on my day or Bubba’s day.”

At the same time, Hamlin credits his mentor’s guidance with helping him become the leader he is today. “I’m going to be hands-on, and I’ve seen the success my boss has had and how hard he has worked to be successful. I want to be that guy in the store — like Joe — who calls at 8 a.m. Sponsors, calling manufacturers, walking down and talking to employees and trying to figure out how to make our cars go faster.”

With Denny Hamlin taking the 23XI on a star-studded journey, we can expect his racers to be winning soon.