Juan Pablo Montoya spill the beans on how Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team convinced him to race at Watkins Glen

Juan Pablo Montoya feels he can be competitive at Watkins Glen, hence decided to pursue the opportunity offered by 23XI Racing.

Juan Pablo Montoya spill the beans on how Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team convinced him to race at Watkins Glen

Juan Pablo Montoya and Michael Jordan (via IMAGO)

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing has over the years made some unique choices in terms of fielding 23XI Racing cars for drivers that fans didn’t expect. This list includes the like of Travis Pastrana and Kamui Kobayashi. Now they have added another legendary driver to list in Juan Pablo Montoya.

The 48 years old Juan Pablo Montoya who hasn’t raced in NASCAR over a decade would drive the No:51 with Mobil1 sponsorship as part of the sponsors anniversary celebrations. Recently JPM talked to the media about how he was convinced by 23XI Racing to race in premier stock car championship at this stage of career.

He admitted that there wasn’t much convincing needed though he wasn’t looking for any racing opportunities. When 23XI chief Steve Lauletta called him and asked him if he can race at Watkins Glen, he just said okay as he wasn’t ready to let go of a pretty cool opportunity that came to him. It being on a track that he has always done well made it extra special.

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Steve Lauletta called me and said ‘Hey, would you be interested in doing Watkins?’ And I thought ‘Oh that’ll be fun. Honestly, it was pretty much that. I thought it would be pretty cool. I always enjoyed running at the Glen, to be honest. We always run well there in Cup.
Juan Pablo Montoya said via Fox Sports.

Juan Pablo Montoya said thinks he can still be competitive at the track

While further talking about the point, JPM admitted that he knows Watkins Glen really well due to his experience racing their and sees it as a fun return he would cherish in the future. He also added that he reckons he can be still competitive at the track and hence there was no reason to say no to the opportunity.

Juan Pablo Montoya (image via PlanetF10
Juan Pablo Montoya (image via PlanetF10
I’ve been to the Glen many times with IMSA and with IndyCar. I know the track well and I thought it would be a fun thing to do. I’m in the point at my career that honestly, I’m not looking for a job, I’m not looking for anything. But an opportunity like this comes along, and I think I can still be competitive and have a shot at it, so why not?
Juan Pablo Montoya said.

The former F1 and IndyCar driver would be hoping to find the magi he once found at Glen in his prime years yet again. It would be interesting to see how the veteran would perform on the race week at Glen.

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