Jordan set to make NASCAR debut with Wallace at Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (AP) » Bubba Wallace was more of a fan of Michael Jordan from “Space Jam” than watching the NBA.
He was just a 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. Wal-
lace, 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 fulltime 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.
BALTIMORE (AP) » Matt Harvey will try to revive his career with the Baltimore Orioles.
The 31-year-old righthander agreed Saturday to a minor league contract with the Orioles. He would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster, and would have the chance to earn performance bonuses.
Harvey was 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances for the Kansas City Royals. His fastball averaged 94.5 mph, down from 97 mph in 2013.
An All-Star with the New York Mets in 2013, Harvey was derailed by Tommy John surgery in October 2013 and an operation to correct Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in 2016.
Harvey went 34-37 with a 3.66 ERA for the Mets from 2012 until he was traded to Cincinnati in May 2018. He moved on to the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 and the Royals in 2020, and is 44-52 with a 4.14 ERA in 144 starts and eight relief appearances.
He will try to earn a job in a rotation headed by All-Star John Means. Former All-Star Félix Hernández and Wade LeBlanc also will be at Orioles spring training with minor league contracts, and rookies Dean Kremer and Keegan Akin also figure to be competing.