‘I think there’s tremendous opportunity here,’ NFL Hall Of Famer Emmitt Smith on becoming NASCAR team owner

‘I think there’s tremendous opportunity here,’ NFL Hall Of Famer Emmitt Smith on becoming NASCAR team owner

Emmitt Smith

NFL Hall of Farmer and Legendary running back Emmitt Smith has entered the NASCAR scene as a purchased a share in No. 34 Jesse Iwuji Motorsports competing in the NASCAR Xfinity series. Co-owner Jesse Iwuji will pilot the Chevrolet for the team in the NASCAR minor league.

The team had plans to introduce the No.22 car to the field as it was the number worn by Emmitt Smith in his NFL career but instead opted for No.34, commemorating NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott, who was the first Black Driver in NASCAR to succeed it NASCAR cup series.

Emmitt Smith joins an entirely new set of NASCAR team owners who invested in the premium stock car racing recently such as NBA superstar Michael Jordan, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and superstar musician Pitbull.

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Find out what Emmitt Smith had to say about joining NASCAR

Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith said he finds a great opportunity in investing in NASCAR as he believes NASCAR opening its door to minority team owners can be a game-changer in the sport. Emmitt Smith went on to say that the approach by NASCAR is more a top to a down approach which he finds really helpful but he added that succeeding in the races can influence more positive changes.

“I think there’s tremendous opportunity here. NASCAR has actually opened the door for minorities to come in and actually own their teams. Ownership is really the key to any type of change you really want to create. If you don’t own it, you can’t really change it,” Emmitt Smith said.

“It’s not a bottom-up approach, it’s really a top-down approach. I’ve never seen a poor person tell a rich person how to invest their money. With that said, you have to be at the table to influence something in the most positive way,” Emmitt Smith added.

Jesse Iwuji and Emmitt Smith
Jesse Iwuji and Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith went on to say that he is learning more about sports and its business surrounding it as he wants to help his driver Jesse Iwuji to succeed. He added that everything is new for him and he is patient with the process going on which he believes can bring success to the team.

“I’m drinking out of a firehose right now trying to learn every aspect of this business from start to finish. I don’t want to learn how to put a car together…I want to learn about the businesses around the sport, and I want to learn how to help this man become successful in this sport. This is new. Everything is a learning curve…We have to be patient with the process and trust the process will yield results,” Emmitt Smith said.

The team had started their campaign in Daytona International Speedway as Jesse Iwuji finished P27 Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300  starting the race at P30.

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