Michael Jordan Is Launching A New Nascar Team With Bubba Wallace As The Driver

Michael Jordan has just purchased a NASCAR Cup Series Charter meaning he'll officially own a team for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

And, unsurprisingly, he's wasted no time in announcing his main driver.

MJ has revealed that fan favourite Bubba Wallace will lead the team out next season having signed to a multi-year deal.

Wallace is the only black driver competing in NASCAR and only recently announced that he was planning on parting ways with his current team Richard Petty Motorsports.

And it appears six-time NBA champion Jordan was quick to snap-up 26-year-old Wallace's services.

It's understood the official name, logo, colours and major sponsors for the team will be announced at a later date.

PA

The news means Jordan will now become the first black majority owner of a NASCAR team since Wendall Scott during the 1970s.

Hall of Famer MJ also revealed that his long-time friend and Jordan brand business partner Denny Hamlin would also be minority owner of the brand new team.

Jordan released a statement, saying: "Growing up in North Carolina, my parents would take my brothers, sisters and me to races, and I've been a NASCAR fan my whole life."

"The opportunity to own my own racing team in partnership with my friend, Denny Hamlin, and to have Bubba Wallace driving for us, is very exciting for me.

"Historically, NASCAR has struggled with diversity and there have been few Black owners. The timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more."

PA

The Chicago Bulls icon - who is also the current owner of the Charlotte Hornets - has always shown an interest in NASCAR and has attended a number of events down the years.

In 2019, he was a special guest at the Homestead-Miami Speedway to support 39-year-old NASCAR veteran Hamlin.

"I'm a big race fan," Jordan told NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jnr who was working for NBC at the time.

"Started off when I was a kid and I grew up watching (Dale Earnhardt), Richard Petty... Cale Yarborough was an original 11 that I remember. Now I'm good friends with Denny Hamlin and we go way back... I'm a big NASCAR fan, so I came out to support him."

Topics: America, Motorsport news, Motorsport, NBA, Michael Jordan, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry