DAYTONA BEACH, Florida: Bubba Wallace was more of a fan of Michael Jordan from watching “Space Jam” than the NBA.
Wallace was just a little kid when Jordan was in his prime with the Chicago Bulls. So, it seemed natural that 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 (Monday in Manila), with Wallace at the wheel, he makes his official debut as a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (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 (AP). “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 complicated to answer. Because of the pandemic, Jordan and Wallace had never met in person. Jordan, who won six National Basketball Association championships over a Hall of Fame career, hit town this week and was spotted playing golf at a country club.