If there’s one car you’re sure to notice during this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, it’s this one — the one with a paint scheme inspired by an iconic sneaker. An iconic Jordan sneaker.
Kurt Busch’s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota is sure to turn some heads in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1), first because the paint scheme is a spectacular look but also because the design is inspired by the Air Jordan 3 Black Cement sneaker. Along with the Black Cement design elements, the car will feature the Jumpman logo on the hood.
Busch’s team, 23XI Racing, is, of course, co-owned by Michael Jordan, and the 2004 Cup champ became the latest Jordan Brand athlete in NASCAR when he joined the second-year team for the 2022 season.
And when Jordan became a team owner in NASCAR ahead of the 2021 season, we figured cool paint schemes were sure to follow. But this one is next-level awesome. 23XI has been teasing this paint scheme, and Thursday, it was finally shared.
🅶🅾🆃 '🅴🅼 @Jumpman23 😤
📍@kansasspeedway 𝟓.𝟏𝟓.𝟐𝟐 #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/QwPswWcvO5
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) May 12, 2022
So what’s so special and cool about the Air Jordan 3?
When the Jordan 3 was first released in 1988, it set the highest standard possible for what a basketball sneaker should be.
It performed better than anything else on the court at that time while also becoming a fashion staple off of it. Now, the sneaker is an absolute icon — maybe the greatest Jordan sneaker of all time.
So it’s certainly fitting to see the classic Black Cement colorway being honored on the race track. If you’re going to emulate a Jordan sneaker, this is definitely the one you do.
It’s gotta be the shoes… Or is it the car..
Best of both worlds. @Jumpman23 X @23XIRacing https://t.co/gvd17Ea1ge
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) May 12, 2022
