In 2022, Kurt Busch will move Monster to Hamlin and MJ’s team

Kurt Busch will drive for 23XI Racing next season, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, in a lengthy expansion move for the rookie team.

This year, Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion, teamed up with Jordan to form a team around Bubba Wallace. Wallace brings millions of dollars in sponsorship for the seat, so it was a simple start.

All year, 23XI has expressed a desire to grow to two cars next year, a decision made simpler by Busch’s own sponsorship. Next year, Monster Energy will partner with Busch as the No. 45 Toyota’s primary sponsor.

When Jordan returned to the NBA after his first retirement in 1995, he wore No. 45. Wallace is behind the wheel of the No. 23, which is the most closely associated with Jordan’s career.

The No. 45 has long been associated with the Petty family in NASCAR, having been piloted by Kyle Petty and his son, Adam, who was killed in a 2000 crash at the age of 19.

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“The No. 45 is a special number to myself and the entire Petty family,” Kyle Petty said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing that number back on the race track contending for race wins and championships. Seeing the number compete again, under the 23XI Racing banner, with Kurt behind the wheel, is exciting for us.

“While the number will always hold many memories of Adam, we know Kurt, Denny and the entire organization will represent it well.”

The hiring was made public on Friday, the night before Daytona International Speedway’s regular-season finale. Both Hamlin and Busch are in the 10-race playoffs, with Hamlin competing for the regular season championship on Saturday night.

“When we started this team, our vision was to grow to a multi-car organization. To be able to expand in just our second year is a huge step for us,” said Hamlin. “Kurt brings a wealth of knowledge and a championship mindset to our team, and will be able to help us grow stronger and more competitive each and every week.”

Hamlin said nothing about the charter, which ensures 36 cars a spot in each week’s 40-car field. 23XI had a charter for Wallace’s automobile, but has been working the market for one for sale for the better part of the year.

Before the regular season finale, both Hamlin and Busch had scheduled media availability on Saturday.

Busch spent the previous three years with Chip Ganassi Racing, where he won the Daytona 500 in the No. 1 Chevrolet. The 2004 Cup winner has 33 victories and will play in his 23rd season next year.

“I cannot begin to express my gratitude for this opportunity,” Busch said. “Racing to win is what I live for. Helping to continue developing a new team, alongside Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Toyota is exactly what I want to be part of. Winning is important to 23XI, it’s important to Monster Energy, and it’s important to me. That is our goal.”

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Busch has remained tight-lipped about his long-term plans throughout the season, beginning with a cryptic nearly 10-minute short film released just before the Daytona 500 that hinted at retirement. When asked about his plans, Busch never gave a direct answer, although it was widely assumed that he was planning to depart Ganassi with Monster and join 23XI.

Ganassi sold his two-car NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing in July, and Trackhouse kept Ross Chastain for the second seat. That almost sealed Busch’s decision to race for Hamlin, a longtime Joe Gibbs Racing teammate of Busch’s younger brother, Kyle.

Busch’s move was announced in another glossy video in which he quipped: “And you thought I was leaving.”

The team said simply, “We got our guy.”

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