In what fans are calling a shock move in the motorsports-sponsorship world, 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, has reportedly refused to place a Tesla advertisement on their race cars, despite an alleged offer from Elon Musk himself.

Sources close to the team (read: imagination zone) say the reason was surprisingly simple — “We race cars with engines that roar… not ones that whisper.”

“Elon’s pitch was bold,” one anonymous insider joked. “But when your cars make more noise backing up than a Tesla does going 200 mph, it’s a branding mismatch.”

What Really (Didn’t) Go Down

According to this completely satirical report:

• Elon Musk allegedly wanted to slap a big “TESLA” logo across the hood of Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 car.

• The team laughed… politely. Then declined.

• 

Fan Reactions Are Pure Gold

On social media, racing fans lit up the rumor with humor:

💬 “Tesla in NASCAR? That’s like entering a BBQ contest with tofu.”
💬 “Give me gas, give me gears, give me glory!”
💬 “Bubba Wallace hitting 180 mph in silent mode? Nah, I want the thunder.”

Tesla’s Response? Silence… Fittingly

As of now, there’s been no official comment from Elon Musk or Tesla. But if we know Elon, he’s probably tweeting something cryptic like “vroom vroom v12 lol.”

Conclusion (and Reality Check)

While this fictional face-off between tech futurism and old-school horsepower might not be real, it perfectly reflects the cultural tension between traditional motorsports and the rise of electric vehicles. Maybe one day Tesla will make a NASCAR-worthy EV—but until then, 23XI Racing is keeping the rumble alive.