“Special for a lot of reasons”: When Denny Hamlin disclosed his feelings about one-of-a-kind offering from billionaire ally Michael Jordan

Back in 2021, Denny Hamlin spoke about his unending love for Air Jordan 1s, an exclusive footwear specifically made for him by Michael Jordan's Jordan Brand. NASCAR driver Hamlin and billionaire NBA legend Jordan are partners, as they co-own the Cup Series outfit, 23XI Racing.

The shoe in question is a limited edition creation only made for the NASCAR driver. Its exclusivity is so top-notch that it is not available at retailers. Hamlin wore the shoe on more than one occasion and spoke highly of it numerous times.

Jordan's Jordan Brand is one of the most renowned shoemakers in the world, known for its superior sneakers. It unveiled the Air Jordan 1 and an exclusive version of it, the Air Jordan 1 Racer PE. Hamlin said about the shoe (as per Footwearnews.com):

“Nine times out of 10, if you see me on the street, I’m wearing Air Jordan 1s. This Air Jordan 1 Racer PE is special for a lot of reasons. Jordan Brand actually built the heat shield into the heel of my shoe, so my feet never get too hot. This is also the first time my racing shoe has the Air Jordan wings logo on it, and of course, there’s the Jumpman logo.”

Denny Hamlin paired up with designer Tobie Hatfield to prepare the custom-made shoe. They prioritized the NASCAR-styled shoe with superior heat protection, flexibility, and comfort. On multiple occasions, Hamlin wore the purple and white sneakers with the prominent Jumpman logo.

The Air Jordan is a line of basketball shoes produced by Nike. The American giant collaborated with NBA legend Jordan to introduce the globally renowned shoe brand. It was first introduced in 1984 and as of 2020, the brand is valued at over $7 billion.

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Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing's charter tussle with NASCAR

In September this year, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, co-owners of 23XI Racing, declined to sign NASCAR's latest charter deal. Apart from the Bob Jenkins-owned Front Row Motorsports, it is the only other team that did not sign the agreement.

Bubba Wallace racing for the Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin-co-owned 23XI Racing - Source: Imagn

Weeks after declining to sign the charter deal, the two aforementioned teams filed an anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR, citing unfair practices. The teams alleged that NASCAR had no transparent economic policy running the charters.

As NASCAR struck back, the two teams filed for an injunction to participate in the 2025 season since their involvement was in jeopardy because of charter non-compliance. After an initial failure, Federal Judge Kenneth D. Bell shared his verdict in favor of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.

The two teams will be able to participate in the Cup Series competition next year as per the verdict. However, NASCAR has filed a petition again to put a stay order on the verdict. It will be interesting to see how the situation turns out in the future.