DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bubba Wallace was more of a fan of Michael Jordan from watching “Space Jam” than the NBA.
He was just a little kid when Jordan was in his prime with Chicago, so it seemed natural Wallace was more captivated by MJ shooting hoops with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck than with the Bulls.
Jordan has been a pitchman, an NBA team owner and a tequila connoisseur — and on Sunday, with Wallace at the wheel, he makes his official debut as a NASCAR team owner with 23XI Racing in the Daytona 500.
Jordan and team co-owner Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion, might have more nerves than Wallace on the eve of NASCAR’s biggest race.
“It’s pretty comical,” Wallace told The Associated Press on Saturday. “It’s like their little kid out there racing, I don’t know. I’m like, you guys are nervous, I’m just over here ready to go.”
The 27-year-old Wallace has answered countless questions about what Jordan was like since the formation of the team was announced late last year.
It was kind of hard to answer: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Jordan and Wallace had never met. Jordan, who won six NBA championships over a Hall of Fame career, hit town this week and was spotted playing golf at a country club.
Wallace was in awe when he met the man responsible for leading Tune Squad to their freedom with a last-second win over the Monstars in the 1996 movie. Wallace, Hamlin and Jordan all filmed a promo scheduled to air Sunday on Fox before the race.
“When he walked in the room it was like, ‘Oh wow, this is for real,’” Wallace said.
It’s gut check time.
Wallace is the only Black full-time driver at NASCAR’s top level and in June successfully called for the series to ban the display of Confederate flags at racetracks. His activism caught the attention of corporate America, which raised enough funding through five companies to sponsor the entire Cup season.
Wallace spent the last three seasons driving the iconic No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports, a team that struggled to compete at the highest levels because of sponsorship woes. As Wallace’s profile expanded, he was able to raise funds that were tied to him and able to move with him.
Jordan is the first Black principal owner of a full-time Cup team since Hall of Famer Wendell Scott in 1973.
Wallace is winless in 112 career Cup starts, all at RPM. His runner-up finish in the 2018 Daytona 500 was the best finish by a Black driver in the race.
Wallace flashed speed in the No. 23 Toyota — yes, Jordan’s old Bulls number — at Speedweeks and topped the only practice session this week. He starts sixth Sunday and even Hamlin, who drives for rival Joe Gibbs Racing, might want to switch cars.
“Our car is super fast. It’s one of the fastest cars in the garage,” Wallace said.
No plans have been perfect amid the pandemic.
The Daytona 500 is usually a who’s who for trying to spot actors, musicians and other famous athletes, who mill around the starting grid and create a party scene like no other in the sport.
NASCAR fans and media would have mobbed Wallace’s car in the final hour before the race hoping to catch a glimpse of or a photo with Jordan. But COVID-19 protocols will keep Jordan from watching at the No. 23 pit box.
“With COVID, it’s kind been a bummer,” 23XI crew chief Mike Wheeler said.
Wheeler appreciated the perks of working for Jordan — like owning the nicest swag (“our nice shoes, fancy equipment”) in the garage.
But MJ will still find a seat at Daytona International Speedway.
“He’s humble enough, too, that he’s like: ‘OK, that’s fine. I’ll just hang outside,’” Wheeler said. “I think he wants to go next week to sit on the pix box. But this week he's here in Daytona watching from the suites.”
Scott is still the only Black driver to win a Cup race. Wallace won six times in the Truck Series and knows — relaxed or not in front of Jordan — that it’s time to win.
“I just know the opportunity is there and what’s on the line,” Wallace said.
_____
AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report.
_____
WDUN will carry live MRN Radio coverage of Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 from the Daytona International Speedway starting at 1:30 pm on 102.9 FM, AM 550 and streaming live on AccessWDUN.
NASCAR Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona 500 – February 14, 2021
Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1. 48 Alex Bowman Ally Chevrolet 47.056 191.262
2. 24 William Byron Axalta Chevrolet 47.314 190.219
3. 10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 0.000 0.000
4. 3 Austin Dillon Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
5. 20 Christopher Bell DEWALT Toyota 0.000 0.000
6. 23 Bubba Wallace DoorDash Toyota 0.000 0.000
7. 6 Ryan Newman Kohler Generators Ford 0.000 0.000
8. 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Light #TheCrew Ford 0.000 0.000
9. 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 0.000 0.000
10. 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota 0.000 0.000
11. 37 Ryan Preece Cottonelle Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
12. 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
13. 5 Kyle Larson Nations Guard Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
14. 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Blue DEF/PEAK Ford 0.000 0.000
15. 99 Daniel Suarez iFly Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
16. 7 Corey LaJoie Youtheory Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
17. 34 Michael McDowell Love’s Travel Stops Ford 0.000 0.000
18. 36 David Ragan Select Blinds Ford 0.000 0.000
19. 77 Jamie McMurray AdventHealth Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
20. 1 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
21. 47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Kroger/NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
22. 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 0.000 0.000
23. 21 Matt DiBenedetto Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford 0.000 0.000
24. 2 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Ford 0.000 0.000
25. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Toyota 0.000 0.000
26. 19 Martin Truex, Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 0.000 0.000
27. 41 Cole Custer HaasTooling.com Ford 0.000 0.000
28. 53 Joey Gase Page Construction Ford 0.000 0.000
29. 8 Tyler Reddick Lenovo Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
30. 14 Chase Briscoe # HighPoint.com Ford 0.000 0.000
31. 43 Erik Jones Armor All Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
32. 15 Derrike Cope Jacob Companies Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
33. 00 Quin Houff Mane ‘n Tail Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
34. 42 Ross Chastain Clover Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
35. 51 Cody Ware Nurtec ODT Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
36. 38 Anthony Alfredo # Speedy Cash Ford 0.000 0.000
37. 52 Josh Bilicki Wisconsin Lighting Lab Ford 0.000 0.000
38. 78 B.J. McLeod(i) NASCAR Heat 5 Ford 0.000 0.000
39. 33 Austin Cindric(i) Verizon 5G Ford 0.000 0.000
40. 16 Kaz Grala Hyper Ice Chevrolet 0.000 0.000
Did Not Qualify: #96 Ty Dillon(i),#13 Garrett Smithley(i),#66 Timmy Hill(i),#62 Noah Gragson(i)
