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A32 sports
Diabierna 23 Juli 2021

Jordan's first year in NASCAR a missed

layup with Wallace

When you look at data and that were tied to him and NASCAR champion, has
everything, the car has a ton were able to move with him. been the race team’s top tar-
of potential. How can we Wallace, the only Black full- get. Busch’s deal was up and
optimize Bubba, the entire time driver at NASCAR’s Chip Ganassi, his current car
team’s performance, pit crew top level, drew a significant owner, sold his NASCAR
and everything, to get better? amount of personal services team to Trackhouse Racing
Because making the step to agreements with companies owner Justin Marks. Marks
get in the top 10 consistently, such as DoorDash and Mc- will field one car next sea-
gaining those three to four Donald’s. Those deals were son for Daniel Suarez and
(AP) — The 23XI Racing and a race team seemingly spots we need to be in the top bundled together and moved one for a driver to be named
team posted a slideshow on firm financial footing has 10 consistently, that’s a big with Wallace to 23XI. later. Ross Chastain, Busch’s
of the Bubba Wallace fire- done little to help Wallace step.” While Wallace will always teammate at Ganassi, is a can-
suit collection and asked find success on the track. He have critics, he’s still a fan didate for that second seat.
fans to comment on their has one top-10 finish this Hamlin has modest expecta- favorite at the track, and his Busch said he’s “getting
favorite. The designs were season -- he had five last sea- tions of getting Wallace those newfound mainstream ce- close” to a deal that will likely
from business plucked son driving for Richard Petty next three to four spots by lebrity recently landed him include long-time sponsor
straight out of Super Bowl Motorsports -- led three laps the end of the season. Wal- (along with Hamlin and Monster Energy.
ad space: Wallace was since late April and needs a lace’s average finish is 20th. Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee)
dressed by top companies win over the next four races The good news, Jordan in a Post Malone video. Wal- Wallace can take small conso-
in fast food, fantasy sports to earn a playoff berth. showed up in June at Pocono lace, driver Corey LaJoie and lation in the fact that Ham-
and auto insurance. The wins better come in Raceway — with pal Ahmad New England Patriots return lin, a three-time Daytona
bunches. Rashad — for Wallace’s best specialist Gunner Olszewski, 500 champion, is also win-
For a driver who spent most Jordan said at NASCAR’s result of the season when he the honorary pace car driver, less through 22 races and
of his NASCAR career scrap- kickoff at Daytona that Wal- placed 14th and fifth in the tossed around the football the struggle to reach victory
ing together sponsorship lace should “probably win at doubleheader on the tri-oval with fans during a rain delay lane is real for even the best
deals for underfunded teams, least a couple races.” track. in Sunday’s race. drivers. He could also look
Wallace is flush with Fortune Cool. When? at surprise winners such as
500 cash. Oh, and boasting “It’s about taking the next Wallace’s season has largely Wallace did admit that no one Michael McDowell and Aric
Michael Jordan and Denny step at this point,” Ham- focused on racing a year af- at 23XI asked for his input on Almirola as proof that all it
Hamlin as team owners sure lin said in New Hampshire. ter his activism forced NAS- a driver should it land a sec- takes is one checkered flag to
helps the cause. “I think my question to the CAR to ban the Confeder- ond charter and expand to a turn around a season.
team is, ‘What’s next? How ate flag. As Wallace’s profile two-driver organization next
But deep-pocketed sponsors do we now move that up?’ expanded, he raised funds season. Kurt Busch, the 2004 Jordan is watching.