# 23XI Racing

23XI Racing (pronounced twenty-three eleven) is an American professional auto racing organization that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. It is owned and operated by Hall of Fame basketball player Michael Jordan, along with current Joe Gibbs Racing driver and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. The team name represents a combination of the number 23 Michael Jordan wore during most of his NBA career and the number 11 which Denny Hamlin has driven his entire Cup series career. The organization fields three full-time entries. They are the No. 23 Toyota Camry for Bubba Wallace, No. 35 Camry for Riley Herbst, and No. 45 Camry for Tyler Reddick Additionally, the team fields the No. 67 Camry part-time for Corey Heim. They have a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing.

## History

During the summer of 2020, rumors swirled that Michael Jordan intended on purchasing an ownership stake in Richard Petty Motorsports, who fielded the only black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Bubba Wallace. Such claims were repeatedly denied by Jordan's management team.
On September 8, 2021, veteran motorsports executive Steve Lauletta was named team president after serving as the interim president since the team's foundation.
On July 12, 2022, 23XI Racing announced that two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick signed with the team for the 2024 season. On July 23, 2022, Hamlin announced that starting in 2023, 23XI would have its own pit crews instead of leasing them from Joe Gibbs Racing.
In May, 2024, 23XI opened its doors to their brand-new race shop and team headquarters, named "Airspeed", in Huntersville, North Carolina.
On October 2, 2024, it was announced that 23XI Racing, along with Front Row Motorsports, filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR over the terms of the updated charter agreement, as well as anti-competitive practices committed by the France family. On December 18, both teams were granted a motion of preliminary injunction, allowing them to race as chartered entries in 2025 while continuing their legal battle with NASCAR. The injunction also allowed the transfer of the two Stewart–Haas Racing charters to both teams.

## NASCAR Cup Series
### Car No. 23 history
#### Bubba Wallace (2021–present)

On September 21, 2020, Jordan and Denny Hamlin announced the formation of a Cup team to begin competition in 2021 with Jordan as majority owner, Hamlin as minority owner, and Wallace, who eleven days prior had announced his departure from Richard Petty Motorsports, as their first official driver. The team bought a guaranteed starting spot in every 2021 race by purchasing a charter from Germain Racing. The team's name, car number and manufacturer were not revealed at the time of the announcement. Hamlin later said that the two had discussed owning a team but that it never came to fruition. On October 22, the team announced its name, 23XI Racing, and would use the number 23 (Jordan's number during his basketball career). On October 30, the team revealed that they will run Toyotas with a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing (whose No. 11 car is driven by Hamlin) and operate out of a shop owned (and formerly used) by Germain Racing. On December 14, 23XI Racing announced that DoorDash, McDonald's, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper, and Root, Inc. will be the sponsors of the No. 23 team in 2021. It was also announced that several crew members of the former Germain operation would join the team as a pit crew. On February 3, it was announced that former Germain driver Ty Dillon (who attempted to make the Daytona 500 with fellow Toyota team Gaunt Brothers Racing) would run the car in the 2021 Busch Clash, as Wallace was not eligible to run the clash.
Wallace finished second in his Duel and finished 17th at the 2021 Daytona 500 after being involved in a last-lap crash. At the Daytona road course he had troubles all day and finished 26th. Wallace struggled out the gate until Phoenix, which was his first strong run of the season. Wallace was running top 15 for most of the day before working his way into the top 10. Following a caution and most of the field pitting, while Wallace stayed out, he restarted first. This move did not work out well for Wallace. Due to him being on old tires and the rest of the field being on new tires, Wallace was quickly cycled out of the first position, dropped back, and wound up making contact with Cole Custer. He ended up finishing 16th. At the 2021 GEICO 500 at Talladega, Wallace had a strong car the entire day. Wallace was running top 10 for a good portion of the day and ended up winning stage 2. This was Wallace's first career stage win. After an overtime restart, Wallace was cycled to the back of the pack and wound up finishing 19th. At Dover, Wallace finished 11th. At Pocono, Wallace finished the first race in 14th, but finished the second race fifth, scoring the team's best finish and their first top-five. He finished third at the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, but he was officially scored with a second-place finish after Chris Buescher was disqualified post-inspection. On September 16, Bootie Barker was named crew chief for the remainder of the season after Wheeler was promoted to Director of Competition. Wallace scored his first career win at the rain-shortened 2021 YellaWood 500 at Talladega, becoming only the second Black driver after Wendell Scott to win a Cup race. Wallace finished the season 21st in points.
Wallace began the 2022 season by finishing in second place at the 2022 Daytona 500. On March 29, 2022, Barker was suspended for four races due to a tire and wheel loss during the 2022 Texas Grand Prix at COTA. Dave Rogers was announced as Wallace's crew chief for Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol, and Talladega. Later in the regular season, Wallace showed strong form, posting four consecutive top-10s at New Hampshire, Pocono, Indianapolis road course, and Michigan.
After failing to make the driver playoffs at Daytona, it was announced that Ty Gibbs would switch to the No. 23 to allow Wallace to compete in the owners championship with the No. 45. At the Texas playoff race, Gibbs veered into Ty Dillon on pit road, nearly sending Dillon towards a NASCAR official and a group of pit crew members; he was subsequently fined US$75,000 and the No. 23 was docked 25 owner points. At Phoenix, Daniel Hemric substituted for Gibbs after the death of his father, Coy Gibbs. Hemric finished 17th.
Wallace started the 2023 season with a 20th-place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. He improved his finishes enough to make the playoffs for the first time in his career. Wallace was eliminated from the Round of 12 at the conclusion of the Charlotte Roval race.
During the 2024 season, Wallace was fined US$50,000 for intentionally door-slamming Alex Bowman during the cool-down lap after the Chicago street race. Following the Martinsville playoff race, the No. 23 was docked 50 owner and driver points and Wallace and the team were each fined US$100,000 for race manipulation, when Wallace faked a tire failure and slowed down to allow fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell to pass him in an attempt to make the Championship 4. In addition, Barker was suspended for the Phoenix finale.

#### Car No. 23 results

| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts |
| 2021 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | Toyota | DAY 17 | DAY 26 | HOM 22 | LVS 28 | PHO 16 | ATL 16 | BRI 27 | MAR 16 | RCH 26 | TAL 19 | KAN 26 | DAR 21 | DOV 11 | COA 39 | CLT 14 | SON 14 | NSH 20 | POC 14 | POC 5 | ROA 24 | ATL 14 | NHA 26 | GLN 23 | IND 13 | MCH 19 | DAY 2 | DAR 21 | RCH 32 | BRI 16 | LVS 16 | TAL 1 | CLT 14 | TEX 32 | KAN 14 | MAR 25 | PHO 39 | 21st | 699 |
| 2022 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | Toyota | DAY 2 | CAL 19 | LVS 25 | PHO 22 | ATL 13 | COA 38 | RCH 26 | MAR 16 | BRI 28 | TAL 17 | DOV 16 | DAR 27 | KAN 10 | CLT 28 | GTW 26 | SON 36 | NSH 12 | ROA 35 | ATL 14 | NHA 3 | POC 8 | IND 5 | MCH 2 | RCH 13 | GLN 35 | DAY 11 | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | 658 |
| 2022 | Ty Gibbs | 23 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 15 | KAN 34 | BRI 35 | TEX 20 | TAL 37 | CLT 22 | LVS 22 | HOM 21 | MAR 19 | | 24th | 658 |
| 2022 | Daniel Hemric | 23 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 17 | 24th | 658 |
| 2023 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | Toyota | DAY 20 | CAL 30 | LVS 4 | PHO 14 | ATL 27 | COA 37 | RCH 22 | BRD 12 | MAR 9 | TAL 28 | DOV 12 | KAN 4 | DAR 5 | CLT 4 | GTW 30 | SON 17 | NSH 15 | CSC 31 | ATL 25 | NHA 8 | POC 11 | RCH 12 | MCH 18 | IRC 18 | GLN 12 | DAY 12 | DAR 7 | KAN 32 | BRI 14 | TEX 3* | TAL 23 | ROV 16 | LVS 12 | HOM 6 | MAR 11 | PHO 10 | 17th | 899 |
| 2024 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | Toyota | DAY 5 | ATL 5 | LVS 35 | PHO 16 | BRI 29 | COA 15 | RCH 13 | MAR 4 | TEX 7 | TAL 32 | DOV 36 | KAN 17 | DAR 7 | CLT 11 | GTW 21 | SON 20 | IOW 17 | NHA 34 | NSH 7 | CSC 13 | POC 10 | IND 5 | RCH 4 | MCH 26 | DAY 6 | DAR 16 | ATL 29 | GLN 17 | BRI 3 | KAN 17 | TAL 9 | ROV 9 | LVS 12 | HOM 18 | MAR 18 | PHO 7 | 18th | 878 |
| 2025 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | Toyota | DAY 29 | ATL 9 | COA 20 | PHO 29 | LVS 28 | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | TAL | TEX | KAN | CLT | NSH | MCH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | RCH | DAY | DAR | GTW | BRI | NHA | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | | |

### Car No. 35 history
#### Riley Herbst (2025–present)

On November 20, 2024, 23XI announced that Riley Herbst would drive the No. 35 for the 2025 season. The No. 35 was chosen by 23XI as an homage to Jordan's Minor League Baseball career.

#### Car No. 35 results

| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts |
| 2025 | Riley Herbst | 35 | Toyota | DAY 17 | ATL 17 | COA 17 | PHO 37 | LVS 19 | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | TAL | TEX | KAN | CLT | NSH | MCH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | RCH | DAY | DAR | GTW | BRI | NHA | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | | |

### Car No. 45 history
#### Kurt Busch (2022)

On August 27, 2021, 23XI Racing announced that Kurt Busch will pilot the No. 45 Toyota Camry in 2022 (With the number 45 being a reference to a jersey number Jordan wore during his baseball career and for 23 games during the 1994–95 NBA season.) His long time sponsor Monster Energy would follow him over. Following the end of the 2021 season, 23XI purchased the former StarCom Racing's charter for US$13.5 million, making it the most expensive charter purchase since the implementation of the system in 2016.
Busch began his 2022 season with a 19th-place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500. Despite a promising start with top-five finishes at Phoenix and Atlanta, he suffered from poor finishes at COTA, Richmond, Bristol dirt, Dover, and Darlington. However, he rebounded with a win at Kansas. At the Pocono race, Busch was not medically cleared after a crash during qualifying, and subsequently missed the last five races of the regular season. Xfinity Series driver Ty Gibbs substituted Busch for the next six races. He finished 16th at Pocono and 17th at Indianapolis. A 10th-place finish at Michigan earned Gibbs his first top-10 finish. The following week at Richmond, Gibbs finished 36th, last due to an engine failure. Gibbs finished 26th at Watkins Glen. On August 25, Busch announced he withdrew his request for a playoff waiver.
Six days later, it was announced that Bubba Wallace would swap rides with Gibbs as the No. 45 entry is still eligible for the owner's championship. Wallace finished ninth at Darlington to open the playoffs. He scored his second career win at Kansas. On October 16, Busch announced he would step away from full-time competition in 2023, with the possibility of running the season on a part-time basis. At Las Vegas, Kyle Larson charged aggressively past Kevin Harvick and Wallace, causing Wallace to scrape the outside wall. Wallace retaliated with a right rear hook on Larson, wrecking both cars down the frontstretch and severely damaging Christopher Bell's car in the process. During the caution, Wallace engaged in a shoving match with Larson. Wallace was suspended for one race for the incident; John Hunter Nemechek was assigned to drive the No. 45 at Homestead.

#### Tyler Reddick (2023–present)

On October 15, 2022, 23XI Racing announced that it bought out the remainder of Tyler Reddick's contract from Richard Childress Racing to replace Kurt Busch in the No. 45 for the 2023 season. Reddick originally signed with 23XI for 2024, but Busch's concussion and subsequent retirement from full-time competition led to this move.
Reddick started the 2023 season with a 39th place DNF at the 2023 Daytona 500. A month later, he scored his first win of the season at COTA in triple overtime. On May 16, NASCAR docked the No. 45 team 10 owner and driver points for unapproved ballasts during inspection prior to qualifying at Darlington. During the playoffs, Reddick won at Kansas to advance to the Round of 12.
Reddick started the 2024 season with a 29th place DNF at the 2024 Daytona 500. He scored his first win of the season at Talladega by overtaking Brad Keselowski on the final stretch after Keselowski spun Michael McDowell and triggered a multi-car crash. He scored his second win of the season at Michigan. Following the Southern 500, Reddick clinched the regular season championship, beating Kyle Larson by just one point. During the playoffs, he locked himself into the Championship 4 by winning at Homestead.

#### Car No. 45 results

| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts |
| 2022 | Kurt Busch | 45 | Toyota | DAY 19 | CAL 8 | LVS 13 | PHO 5 | ATL 3 | COA 32 | RCH 35 | MAR 6 | BRI 32 | TAL 16 | DOV 31 | DAR 28 | KAN 1* | CLT 31 | GTW 3 | SON 18 | NSH 2 | ROA 23 | ATL 22 | NHA 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 2231 |
| 2022 | Ty Gibbs | 45 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | POC 16 | IND 17 | MCH 10 | RCH 36 | GLN 26 | DAY 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 2231 |
| 2022 | Bubba Wallace | 45 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 9 | KAN 1 | BRI 29 | TEX 25 | TAL 16 | CLT 7 | LVS 36 | | MAR 8 | PHO 22 | 10th | 2231 |
| 2022 | John Hunter Nemechek | 45 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HOM 27 | | | | 10th | 2231 |
| 2023 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | Toyota | DAY 39 | CAL 34 | LVS 15 | PHO 3 | ATL 5 | COA 1 | RCH 16 | BRD 2 | MAR 22 | TAL 16 | DOV 7 | KAN 9 | DAR 22 | CLT 5 | GTW 35 | SON 33 | NSH 30 | CSC 28 | ATL 27 | NHA 6 | POC 2 | RCH 16 | MCH 30 | IRC 4 | GLN 8 | DAY 25 | DAR 2 | KAN 1 | BRI 15 | TEX 25 | TAL 16 | ROV 6 | LVS 7 | HOM 3 | MAR 26 | PHO 22 | 6th | 2344 |
| 2024 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | Toyota | DAY 29 | ATL 30 | LVS 2 | PHO 10 | BRI 30 | COA 5 | RCH 10 | MAR 7 | TEX 4 | TAL 1 | DOV 11 | KAN 20 | DAR 32* | CLT 4 | GTW 4 | SON 8* | IOW 22 | NHA 6 | NSH 3 | CSC 2 | POC 6 | IND 2* | RCH 3 | MCH 1 | DAY 28 | DAR 10 | ATL 6 | GLN 27 | BRI 20 | KAN 25 | TAL 20 | ROV 11 | LVS 35 | HOM 1* | MAR 34 | PHO 6 | 4th | 5031 |
| 2025 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | Toyota | DAY 2 | ATL 19 | COA 3 | PHO 20 | LVS 24 | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | TAL | TEX | KAN | CLT | NSH | MCH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | RCH | DAY | DAR | GTW | BRI | NHA | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | | |

### Car No. 50 history

On March 13, 2024, it was announced that Kobayashi would once again compete in a race for the team, this time at COTA. The car number will race as the No. 50 instead of the No. 67 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of sponsor Mobil 1. The team planed to run the No. 50 for two more races during the season with different drivers.
On May 10, 2024, 23XI Racing announced that Corey Heim would drive the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry at Nashville Superspeedway. Heim finished 29th after crashing out in one of five overtimes.
On August 2, 2024, the team announced that Juan Pablo Montoya would make his NASCAR Cup Series return for 23XI at Watkins Glen on September 15. This will be the 3rd and final start for the No. 50 Mobil 1 entry in 2024. Montoya finished 32nd in his return to stock car racing.

#### Car No. 50 results

| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts |
| 2024 | Kamui Kobayashi | 50 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | BRI | COA 29 | RCH | MAR | TEX | TAL | DOV | KAN | DAR | CLT | GTW | SON | IOW | NHA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45th | 21 |
| 2024 | Corey Heim | 50 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NSH 29 | CSC | POC | IND | RCH | MCH | DAY | DAR | ATL | | | | | | | | | | 45th | 21 |
| 2024 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 50 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | GLN 32 | BRI | KAN | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO | 45th | 21 |

### Car No. 67 history
#### Part-time (2023–present)

On January 17, 2023, 23XI announced that Travis Pastrana would attempt to enter the No. 67 Toyota Camry for the 2023 Daytona 500 with sponsorship coming from Black Rifle Coffee Company. On February 14, Pastrana made the entry field by scoring the second fastest lap among the non-chartered teams. He suffered an accident in the qualifying duel and started in the back for the race. Pastrana ended up finishing 11th in the race. On June 7, it was announced that Kamui Kobayashi would make his Cup debut in the No. 67 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, he would end up finishing 33rd in the race after getting caught up in several wrecks.
On February 23, 2025, 23XI announced that Corey Heim signed a developmental deal that includes Cup races in the 67, and Xfinity races in the Sam Hunt Racing No. 24 car.

#### Car No. 67 results

| Year | Driver | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | Owners | Pts |
| 2023 | Travis Pastrana | 67 | Toyota | DAY 11 | CAL | LVS | PHO | ATL | COA | RCH | BRD | MAR | TAL | DOV | KAN | DAR | CLT | GTW | SON | NSH | CSC | ATL | NHA | POC | RCH | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 41st | 30 |
| 2023 | Kamui Kobayashi | 67 | Toyota | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IRC 33 | GLN | DAY | DAR | KAN | BRI | TEX | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO | 41st | 30 |
| 2025 | Corey Heim | 67 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | COA | PHO | LVS | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | TAL | TEX | KAN | CLT | NSH | MCH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | RCH | DAY | DAR | GTW | BRI | NHA | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | | |