Next season, 23XI Racing will have two full-time NASCAR Cup Series teams, with veteran Kurt Busch driving the second.
Beginning with the 2022 season, Busch, the 2004 Cup Series champion, will drive the #45 Toyota for 23XI Racing. The deal’s duration was not specified in the press release.
The team’s #23 vehicle will be driven by Bubba Wallace.
When he played minor league baseball and returned to the NBA after his original retirement, 23XI Racing co-owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan wore the number #45.
“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.”
Monster Energy will join Busch at 23XI Racing and will be the No. 45 team’s major sponsor.
Busch, 42, has spent the last three seasons driving the #1 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. In his Cup career, he has 33 victories and 326 top-10 finishes.
“When we started this team, our vision was to grow to a multi-car organisation. To be able to expand in just our second year is a huge step for us,” said 23XI Racing co-owner Denny 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.”
In the announcement, 23XI Racing did not say from where it would obtain a second charter for the #45 team.
According to Mecklenburg County real estate records, the team recently purchased roughly 15 acres in Huntersville, North Carolina, for $3.7 million, probably for its future permanent headquarters.
The uniforms of NASCAR racing drivers are currently available at the following websites for a reasonable price:
