23XI Racing Overview
23XI Racing is an American professional auto racing organization that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. Founded in 2020, the team is owned by basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan alongside NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, with Curtis Polk also holding an ownership stake. The team name combines Jordan’s NBA number 23 with Hamlin’s Cup Series number 11, pronounced “twenty-three eleven.” Steve Lauletta serves as team president. Headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina, the organization fields multiple Toyota Camry entries and maintains a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. The team has quickly become a competitive force in NASCAR, accumulating 15 wins across 197 races since debuting in 2021, with notable drivers including Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, Tyler Reddick, and Corey Heim.
The team represents a unique collaboration between two sporting legends, bringing Jordan’s global brand recognition and Hamlin’s deep NASCAR expertise together under one banner. Operating as a Toyota OEM program with Joe Gibbs Racing technical support, 23XI has established itself as a consistent playoff contender. Beyond competition, the organization made headlines in 2024 when it filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR alongside Front Row Motorsports, a dispute that was ultimately settled in late 2025. The team opened its dedicated “Airspeed” race shop and headquarters in Huntersville in May 2024, marking a significant expansion of its operational infrastructure.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The formation of 23XI Racing emerged from discussions between Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin about pursuing an ownership opportunity in NASCAR. During the summer of 2020, rumors circulated that Jordan intended to purchase an ownership stake in Richard Petty Motorsports, which fielded Bubba Wallace as NASCAR’s only Black driver in the Cup Series at that time. Those reports were repeatedly denied by Jordan’s management team. Rather than pursuing the existing team, Jordan and Hamlin decided to build their own organization from the ground up.
In September 2020, Jordan and Hamlin announced the formation of a Cup Series team to begin competition in 2021, with Jordan serving as majority owner, Hamlin as minority owner, and Wallace signed as the first official driver. The team secured its competitive footprint by purchasing a charter from Germain Racing, guaranteeing starting positions in every 2021 race. On October 22, the team officially announced its name, 23XI Racing, and confirmed it would use the number 23. A week later, the organization revealed Toyota as its manufacturer with a technical alliance to Joe Gibbs Racing, operating from a shop formerly used by Germain Racing.
Founding sponsors included DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper, and Root, Inc., providing the financial foundation for the new operation. Several crew members from the former Germain operation joined as part of the pit crew. Steve Lauletta, a veteran motorsports executive, was named team president in September 2021 after serving as interim president since the team’s inception. Starting in 2023, 23XI made the significant decision to operate its own pit crews rather than leasing them from Joe Gibbs Racing, establishing greater organizational independence.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Series Competition
The team’s entry into NASCAR Cup Series competition represented a significant expansion of Jordan and Hamlin’s motorsports ambitions. From its inception, 23XI benefited from Hamlin’s deep connections within the Joe Gibbs Racing organization and the broader Toyota Racing Development network. The technical alliance provided essential engineering support, chassis expertise, and technical resources that enabled the new team to compete at a high level from its first race.
Building competitive operations required substantial investment in personnel, facilities, and equipment. The team initially operated from the Germain Racing shop while planning for a permanent headquarters. As the organization matured, it expanded its technical capabilities and competition infrastructure. The decision to bring pit crew operations in-house for 2023 demonstrated the team’s commitment to building a fully integrated racing operation capable of challenging for championships.
In October 2024, 23XI Racing made a significant move by filing an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR alongside Front Row Motorsports, challenging the terms of the updated charter agreement and alleged anti-competitive practices by the France family. A federal court granted a preliminary injunction in December 2024, allowing both teams to race as chartered entries in 2025 while the legal battle continued. The U.S. Court of Appeals overturned this ruling in June 2025. The case ultimately settled in December 2025 after eight days in court, marking a pivotal moment in the sport’s business landscape.
23XI Racing Competitive Journey
Since debuting at the 2021 Daytona 500, 23XI Racing has established itself as a consistent contender in the NASCAR Cup Series, earning 15 wins and 11 pole positions across 197 races entered. The organization has qualified for the playoffs multiple times with different drivers and has developed into a championship-caliber operation. The team’s competitive trajectory shows consistent improvement, with Tyler Reddick emerging as a primary title threat while Bubba Wallace continues to develop as a race winner.
Early Seasons and Development (2021)
The 2021 season marked 23XI Racing’s debut at the highest level of American stock car racing. Bubba Wallace drove the No. 23 Toyota Camry, transitioning from Richard Petty Motorsports to the new organization. Wallace finished 17th at the Daytona 500 after being involved in a last-lap crash. The early portion of the season presented expected challenges for a new team learning to operate at the Cup Series level. Wallace’s first strong run came at Phoenix Raceway, where he demonstrated competitive speed before being caught in a late-race sequence that dropped him to a 16th-place finish.
A breakthrough moment arrived at the GEICO 500 at Talladega, where Wallace won Stage 2 for his first career stage win in the Cup Series. He followed this with a fifth-place finish at Pocono, marking the team’s best result to that point. Wallace then finished second at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, officially scored third after Chris Buescher was disqualified post-inspection. On September 16, Bootie Barker replaced Wheeler as crew chief for the remainder of the season. The defining moment of the season came at the rain-shortened YellaWood 500 at Talladega, where Wallace captured his first career Cup Series victory, becoming only the second Black driver after Wendell Scott to win a race at NASCAR’s top level. Wallace finished the inaugural season 21st in championship points.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Cup Series (2022–2023)
The 2022 season brought continued development and competitive growth for 23XI Racing. Kurt Busch joined the organization to pilot the No. 45 Toyota Camry, bringing veteran experience and Monster Energy sponsorship. The number 45 honored the jersey number Jordan wore during his baseball career and briefly during his NBA return in 1994–95. Busch started the season with a second-place finish at the Daytona 500 and later won at Kansas, demonstrating the team’s potential. However, concussions suffered during a qualifying crash at Pocono forced Busch to miss the final races of the regular season. Xfinity Series driver Ty Gibbs substituted, and Busch ultimately announced his retirement from full-time competition.
Bubba Wallace moved to the No. 45 entry mid-season to keep the car playoff-eligible in the owners’ championship. He responded with strong performances, including a ninth-place finish at Darlington to open the playoffs and a victory at Kansas for his second career win. For 2023, Wallace returned to the No. 23 while Tyler Reddick took over the No. 45 after 23XI bought out his contract from Richard Childress Racing. Reddick won at Kansas during the playoffs, advancing to the Round of 12. Wallace made the playoffs for the first time in his career in 2023 and was eliminated from the Round of 12 at the Charlotte Roval.
Championship Pursuit (2024–2026)
The 2024 season represented 23XI Racing’s emergence as a true championship threat. Tyler Reddick delivered a standout performance, winning at Talladega and Michigan during the regular season. He clinched the regular season championship by a single point over Kyle Larson, becoming the first 23XI driver to claim the regular season title. Reddick locked himself into the Championship 4 by winning at Homestead-Miami Speedway, giving the organization its first chance to compete for the series championship. The achievement established 23XI as a legitimate championship-caliber program.
Reddick began the 2026 season with a historic start, winning the Daytona 500, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and COTA Road Course in succession. He became the first driver in Cup Series history to win the first three races of a season. He continued his dominance by winning at Darlington and Kansas, becoming the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win five of the first nine races of a season. Riley Herbst joined the organization for the 2025 season, driving the No. 35 Toyota Camry. Corey Heim signed a developmental deal and competes part-time in the No. 67 entry, scoring his first career victory at Naval Base Coronado during the 2026 season.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
23XI Racing has evolved into a multi-car organization with four entries in the NASCAR Cup Series. The No. 23 Toyota Camry is driven by Bubba Wallace, the No. 35 Camry by Riley Herbst, the No. 45 Camry by Tyler Reddick, and the No. 67 Camry part-time by Corey Heim. The organization operates from its Airspeed headquarters and race shop in Huntersville, North Carolina, which opened in May 2024. The state-of-the-art facility represents a significant investment in the team’s future and provides enhanced engineering, fabrication, and competition capabilities.
The organization maintains its technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, benefiting from Toyota Racing Development’s resources and engineering expertise. This partnership has been instrumental in the team’s rapid competitiveness, providing access to proven chassis designs, technical data, and developmental programs. Steve Lauletta continues to lead the organization as president, overseeing competition, operations, and strategic growth. The ownership group, led by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, remains committed to building a championship-contending program while maintaining the team’s identity as a progressive force in motorsports.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
23XI Racing prioritizes driver development and strategic race execution as core competitive principles. The organization benefits from its Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing technical alliance, which provides proven engineering foundations and continuous technical advancement. The team has demonstrated strength on varied circuits, with victories at superspeedways like Talladega and Daytona, intermediate tracks such as Kansas and Darlington, and road courses including COTA. Tyler Reddick has emerged as the organization’s championship-standard driver, capable of winning at any track type.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The defining moment in 23XI Racing history came on September 30, 2021, when Bubba Wallace won the YellaWood 500 at Talladega, becoming the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since Wendell Scott in 1963. This victory established the team as a serious competitor and provided a historic milestone for diversity in motorsports. Tyler Reddick’s 2024 season, which included the regular season championship and a Championship 4 appearance, marked the organization’s elevation to title contention. Reddick’s historic start to 2026, with three consecutive wins to begin the season, demonstrated the team’s championship-caliber capability. Beyond competition, the team’s antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR brought national attention to business practices in professional motorsports and resulted in a landmark settlement in December 2025.
23XI Racing Achievements and Results
23XI Racing has established itself as a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup Series since debuting in 2021. Across 197 races entered, the team has accumulated 15 victories and 11 pole positions, demonstrating consistent qualifying and racing performance across multiple seasons. The organization has developed multiple race winners and established itself as a perennial playoff contender with Tyler Reddick emerging as a championship-standard driver. The team’s achievements span superspeedways, intermediate tracks, and road courses, reflecting competitive strength across varied circuit types.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
Bubba Wallace captured 23XI Racing’s first Cup Series victory at the rain-shortened YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on September 30, 2021, a historic moment as only the second Black driver to win at NASCAR’s top level. Wallace won his second Cup race at Kansas Motor Speedway during the 2022 playoffs. Tyler Reddick has emerged as the organization’s most successful driver, winning at Kansas in 2023 during the playoffs and then delivering a dominant 2024 season that included wins at Talladega and Michigan, the regular season championship, and a Championship 4 appearance at Phoenix. Reddick continued his championship-level performance into 2026 with multiple victories including the Daytona 500, Atlanta, and COTA to begin the season.
Conference Achievements
23XI Racing has consistently qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs across multiple seasons. Tyler Reddick’s 2024 regular season championship marked the organization’s first conference-level title, clinching the top spot heading into the playoffs by a single point over Kyle Larson. Reddick advanced through the playoff rounds to reach the Championship 4 at Phoenix, giving 23XI its first opportunity to compete for the series championship. The organization has maintained playoff eligibility across multiple entries in recent seasons, demonstrating competitive depth and consistency.
Divisional Achievements
The No. 45 entry has been particularly successful for 23XI Racing. Kurt Busch won at Kansas in 2022, giving the team its second different driver to visit victory lane. Bubba Wallace added a playoff victory at Kansas in the same car number later that season. Tyler Reddick took over the No. 45 starting in 2023 and immediately demonstrated championship potential, winning at Kansas during the playoffs. In 2024, Reddick won at Talladega and Michigan with this entry before claiming the regular season championship and advancing to the Championship 4. The No. 45 continued its success into 2026 with Reddick winning the Daytona 500, Atlanta, COTA, Darlington, and Kansas.
Series Achievements
Since debuting in 2021, 23XI Racing has rapidly ascended the NASCAR Cup Series competitive standings. The organization reached the Championship 4 for the first time in 2024 with Tyler Reddick. Across five seasons of competition, the team has accumulated 15 victories and 11 pole positions across 197 races entered, reflecting a winning percentage of approximately 7.6 percent. The team’s championship point performance has improved each season, with Reddick finishing among the top drivers in final points standings. The organization’s growth from a first-year operation in 2021 to a championship contender by 2024 represents one of the most rapid competitive ascents in modern NASCAR history.
