“I dropped a tear because I know his passion…it’s like your little brother actually winning a race.” – Michael Jordan on Bubba Wallace’s Historic Victory at Talladega
“I could not do this without him and I don’t think he could do this without me, and I think that those two things just make this team work.” – Denny Hamlin on co-owning 23XI Racing with Jordan
Interview to Air on Countdown to Green Today at 1 p.m. ET on NBC
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 to be Decided at The ROVAL Today at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC
STAMFORD, Conn. – Oct. 10, 2021 – Michael Jordan, basketball legend and 23XI Racing co-owner, and Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver and 23XI Racing co-owner, speak with NBC News’ Craig Melvin on today’s Countdown to Green, which begins at 1 p.m. ET on NBC leading into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs cutoff race from The ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 2:30 p.m. ET.
In the exclusive interview, Jordan and Hamlin discuss the historic first victory for 23XI Racing by Bubba Wallace at Talladega this past Monday, which also marked the second win for a Black driver in NASCAR Cup Series history, and reflect on the first year for the race team.
Below are excerpts from Jordan and Hamlin’s interview with Melvin. If used, please note the mandatory credit: “In an exclusive interview airing on NBC Sports’ Countdown to Green…” The entire interview will be available this afternoon at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSports.com.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
Jordan on Bubba Wallace becoming the second Black driver to win a race in NASCAR Cup Series history at Talladega: “I dropped a tear because I know his passion and I know Denny had to feel the same way. It’s like your little brother actually winning a race.”
Hamlin: “I started getting emotional when I saw the emotion that they had.”
Hamlin on co-owning 23XI Racing with Jordan: “I could not do this without him and I don’t think he could do this without me, and I think that those two things just make this team work.”
NBC Sports’ Marty Snider will host Countdown to Green today at 1 p.m. ET alongside auto racing icon Kyle Petty and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett from the Peacock Pit Box. NBC Sports’ lead NASCAR race announcer Rick Allen will call the elimination race with Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte, 21-time Cup Series race winner and “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton, and two-time Daytona 500 Champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame selection Dale Earnhardt Jr.
--NBC SPORTS--