Being a racing driver in NASCAR is one difficult task, and managing a team as an owner is another burden. Imagine the situation of a driver who has to do both actively. That is the fine line that Denny Hamlin walks every weekend in the NASCAR series currently. In a case like this, lapses are bound to happen, and one such lapse brought some unwanted friction between 23XI team partners Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan awarded an earful to Denny Hamlin for dirty tactics

In NASCAR, the rule is simple. You either move out of the way on your own accord, or you are slammed out of the way by a faster driver. Denny Hamlin, being a veteran who has been racing for the past two decades in this series, is well versed with this tactic. But once he took it too far, to the point of sabotaging his own driver.

Denny Hamlin’s championship battle in Kansas turned ugly as he ended up taking out his own driver for the victory. And that ended up making Michael Jordan slightly annoyed at Hamlin for his unfairness.

“He got a phone call from me. We also got together here. I know you want to win, but you know, race fairly. I didn’t think he raced fairly, but he kept trying to convince me that he did. I said, ‘Bulls***, no way. I know you. I know you’re competitive. I probably would have thought the same thing.’ I totally understood it. I understood it. I can also understand when he was lying, too.”

Since like minds think alike, Jordan immediately knew that Hamlin did it on purpose. While he was thinking about the best situation for 23XI Racing, Hamlin was thinking about his own commitments to Joe Gibbs and his No. 11 team at JGR.

“Well, I have to. Listen, I’m in a unique situation because I have to look at the eyes of the employees Joe gives races to and my team, and they have to know that when I’m out there, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win no matter which race cars I’m racing against,” said Hamlin.

“Now, the downside of that is also we’re all part of a Toyota family; that matters as well. And the difficult part is neither one of the Toyotas won. So, it’s just a fine balance. I only have a few more years that I’ve got to ride that balance, but this is my future,” he added.

There should be no surprise about the way Hamlin ended his response. The No. 11 driver has made it clear that he is in his last NASCAR contract with Joe Gibbs. At the end of the day, Hamlin does not want to go down as a driver who lost his edge. After claiming the championship, Denny Hamlin will probably retire from the sport.

At least from that day onwards, Hamlin can truly focus on one objective and forget treading the knife-edge every week as he heads into the race. But what are his future plans for 23XI Racing and their NASCAR operations?

Denny Hamlin teases next step for 23XI

For now, Hamlin is busy trying to win his own championship. Hence, he can’t truly invest all of his time working with 23XI and trying to make them the best. While the team is working great and already running at the top for now, they are still arguably unstable. 

23XI’s co-owner is unable to impart to them a true vision due to his own career. That will only take place after Hamlin finally retires from driving.

“I only have a certain amount of time to do this as a competitor. So I want to accomplish all the goals that I can accomplish personally. But while that’s going on, I know that the process to build this into a championship organization takes a long time. 

“So we’re putting all the building blocks together. I think it’s all really going to come together right as soon as I’m done racing. And then I’m all in on, you know, getting these guys all the wins they can get. But they do it. They’re the ones that go out there and compete each week. It’s up for me and him to get them all the tools they need to succeed. But they’re the ones that actually get it done.”

Even though 23XI is in a technical alliance with JGR, the team can’t stay dependent for too long. Now that drivers like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are starting to earn the spotlight with good race finishes, they will have to step up their game. 23XI Racing will have to prove that it deserves the top spot as an independent team.