Wallace has gained national notoriety for being vocal on racial injustice and systematic racismGETTY IMAGES
Michael Jordan hopes his new role as owner of a NASCAR team with Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace will "bring more Black fans" into the sport, according to Bob Pockrass of FOXSPORTS.com On being a co-Owner of a team with Hamlin, Jordan said, "To me, you're basically just diving into [a] situation where very few Black people are involved in the NASCAR arena. So in essence, you're going in with the opportunity to expand that, to give a different lens to NASCAR as a whole." He added, "For so long, it's been viewed from a negative aspect with the Confederate flag and all these other things that occurred. Now you go in with NASCAR making an effort to change the perspective and try to attract and connect to the next generation without losing something for today's authenticity of the sport. (It) presented an opportunity for me obviously to get involved in this whole process that I am spearheading a thought process of Blacks getting involved in NASCAR." Pockrass noted Wallace "had not been vocal on issues of racial injustice and systematic racism until this year, and that has brought him national notoriety -- as well as some boos at the race track." Jordan said that Wallace's stance "did have an impact on his getting involved." Jordan: "He took a stance for what he believed in. Obviously, I support him in this stance. It was a chip that added to this whole process" (FOXSPORTS.com, 9/23).
ALL IN: Hamlin said that the competitive nature he and Jordan both have "will ensure that 'we will not do this team halfway.'" Hamlin: "It will be a top-tier team sooner than later." He added, "I have very good faith that Bubba is going to have everything that he needs to be capable of winning, and I think he's got the talent to do it. But still there would be growing pains here and there just like any team would have." NBCSPORTS.com's Dustin Long noted NASCAR's history is "littered with former athletes and celebrities who have come and gone as co-owners in teams," although Jordan "unquestionably is the biggest celebrity" to enter the sport. Jordan: "I'm not doing this to try to look at the financials. The financials are part of the process, but my passion drives me more than the financials. If I invest or not invest, I was still going to call Denny each and every Sunday and ask him what the hell is he doing, is he going to win today, what is he going to do, what happened?" (NBCSPORTS.com, 9/23).
