NASCAR star Denny Hamlin wins bet with Michael Jordan over who drives best

As if a driver needs further incentive to win a Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff race, Denny Hamlin got some added inspiration in the form of a text message from Michael Jordan.

Hamlin, who won the Chase opener on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, revealed afterward a bet between himself and Jordan where if Hamlin won, the man considered the greatest basketball player of all-time would concede the 34-year-old professional racer for Joe Gibbs Racing was the better wheelman.

While that may not seem much of a concession, Jordan’s competitiveness is legendary to the point he rarely admits anyone is better at him in anything.

“(Jordan) texted me on Wednesday,” Hamlin said after winning the MyAFibRisk.com 400. “He said he was in Monte Carlo and I popped in his head like I always do -- which I thought was a little odd. He says, ‘I know you’re about to head into the playoffs. I just want you to know I’ve never admitted to anybody that anyone is better than me at anything my whole life, but if you win this race this weekend, I will admit that you’re a better driver than I am.’

“I thought, ‘Wow, that would be awesome.‘ So the first thing I’m going to do is text him and say, ‘Admit it, I’m better than you.’ I want everyone to know.”

A devout basketball player, Hamlin tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Sept. 8 and will need reconstructive surgery following the season. He is also a Charlotte Hornets courtside season-ticket holder, the NBA team Jordan owns, and has developed a close friendship with the hoops legend.

When Hamlin advanced to the Chase championship race a year ago, Jordan made an impromptu appearance to support him at Homestead-Miami Speedway. And after Hamlin narrowly lost the title to Kevin Harvick, Jordan consoled Hamlin on pit road.

With how strong Hamlin and JGR have performed this season -- the team’s four drivers have combined to win nine of the past 12 races -- there’s a good chance Jordan will be paying a second visit to the South Florida track in November.

By winning on Sunday, Hamlin automatically advances to the next round, and with how the schedule sets up he is well positioned for another deep playoff run. He’s won on seven of the nine remaining Chase tracks, including multiple victories at Martinsville and Texas, which host Round 3 events, and at Homestead.

“I think we can make a run,” Hamlin said. “I’ve told everyone these Chase tracks set up better for nobody than it does for me as the Chase goes on. So I think the next round is the most challenging for us personally. You just get us to that (third) round and I’m pretty confident we’ll be at Homestead with a chance.”