Michael Andretti admits he will not follow $2.2 billion worth Michael Jordan’s NASCAR entry model
Michael Andretti has long been interested in taking his team to NASCAR.
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Michael Andretti (Credits: @RoadandTrack/ Twitter) and Michael Jordan (Credits: @23xiracing/ Twitter)
Only a few elite racing organizations can match Andretti Autosports’ legacy in the Motorsports world. The Michael Andretti-led racing team fully pledges to enter the premier open-wheel racing series, Formula One, in 2026. They are building a new team from the ground with Cadillac as their partner. But the American team is also eying entering NASCAR as well.
It has been a long-standing interest of Andretti Autosports to join NASCAR, but they haven’t been able to materialize the dream. Unlike in F1, the team is unwilling to build a team from the ground in NASCAR as they deem it a big distraction they can’t afford. They are willing to enter by purchasing teams with existing assets.
“I would never go into it ground-up there. I think it would have to be something that basically already has something going. I also want to make a point that this does not distract from anything else we’re doing. But yeah, I mean, there’s a possibility to be there,” Andretti told the RACER.
If the legendary team decided to build from the ground, they have two big models they could follow in the Next-Gen car era. NBA legend Michael Jordan and JGR veteran Denny Hamlin build the 23XI Racing team from the ground up. Justin Marks and Popstar Pitbull did something similar with Trackhouse Racing. But they purchased CGR’s NASCAR asset to expand as a two-car team.
Both teams are now regular race-win contenders capable of becoming championship contenders soon. They scored multiple wins last season and have also secured wins this season. They also have two of the most promising talents, Tyler Reddick and Ross Chastain, in their garage. Both teams are also becoming a pathway for international talent to prove themselves in NASCAR.
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Michael Andretti wants to see his son Marco in the Cup series
One of the front runners for Andretti’s NASCAR seat will be the third-generation driver Marco Andretti. The two times IndyCar race winner is focused on making a name for himself in the stock car racing scene. The 2021 SRX Champion made his NASCAR debut last year in the Xfinity Serie at ROVAL and made his Truck debut recently at Mid-Ohio and scored a P20.
Andretti sees a future in stock car racing for his son. When asked about it, he said, “That’s what we’re hoping! It looks like that, I’ll tell you. We’ll see how he goes. He’s going to run a few more this year, and hopefully some more other races next year. I think if everything goes well, it’s possible to see him in Cup in a year or so.”
The team could enter NASCAR by purchasing a charter from Spire Motorsports. Andretti Autosport’s co-owner Daniel Towriss’ Group 1001 company Gainbridge became Spire’s primary sponsor of Spire, and since then, rumors about a possibility have been discussed in the racing community. The team’s NASCAR efforts are expected to start once the F1 spot is confirmed.
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Justin P Joy
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