Bubba Wallace to Drive #23 in 2021: Take a Look at NASCAR’s No. 23 Car Through The Years

Bubba Wallace is taking over the NASCAR No. 23 car in 2021. See the iconic race car number through the years.

The Legendary Number in NASCAR

Two years after it was last seen, No. 23 will return to the road in NASCAR with 23XI Racing. It is a joint venture between the team owners, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.

The number first arrived in 1949 during the Cup Series’ first-ever season. One of the first photos of the car while driving in a competition was in 1951 with Mike Klapak as the driver. Perry Smith owners let him drive the Studebaker at the Daytona Beach Road course.

One of the more memorable moments was when “Iron” Mike Magill crashed his Lincoln. He flipped the car on the Darlington Track in 1953 at the Southern 500 race. All in all, he finished 34th, which is not bad considering the traumatic crash.

Cory LaJoie used the number for an impressive sixteen Cup Series events in 2017 for BK Racing.

Earlier in the 2018 season, Spencer Gallagher made his only NASCAR Cup Series debut. He drove the Toyota during the series at Watkins Glen International.

Most recently, JJ Yeley drove the No. 23 in the 2018 season for Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins.

The Gallery

See photos of the number through the years, below.

All are great, but we of course we can’t wait to see the new 23 hit the track. Here is the 2021 #23 ride: