Opinion
NFL great Emmitt Smith, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Iwuji launch NASCAR team for 2022 season
A day after NASCAR held the primary Conflict race in a soccer stadium on the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith and driver Jesee Iwuji introduced plans on Monday to compete within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence full-time in 2022.
Fellow soccer gamers Emmitt Smith and Jesse Iwuji are launching a NASCAR Xfinity Group with Iwuji driving in 2022.
(Garry Eller/HHP for Chevy Racing)
Smith and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Iwuji joined forces final 12 months with the intention of launching a brand new crew and can run a Chevrolet Camaro SS in partnership with the automaker.
“First, our crew couldn’t be extra excited concerning the partnership with Chevrolet due to what it means to our race crew and followers as we get our footing in NASCAR,” Smith stated in a launch on the partnership with Chevrolet.
“It was important to align to a producer that not solely offered us with the perfect in know-how but in addition believed in supporting Jesse, believed within the nice males and lady that defend our nation, believed in range, and believed in all the pieces that our crew stands for. Jesse Iwuji Motorsports is thrilled to have Chevy play an important position in our mission to drive range, fairness and inclusion in racing and be a part of within the improvement of Jesse as he chases his dream.”
Jesse Iwuji has accomplished in a number of NASCAR Xfinity Sequence and Truck Sequence occasions.
(Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)
Iwuji, who performed soccer on the U.S. Naval Academy and put in seven years of lively service within the Navy earlier than changing into a reservist, has beforehand competed part-time in 5 Xfinity Sequence races and 15 Truck Sequence races.
The 2 met in 2020 when Smith’s firm Notable.Reside sponsored Iwuji’s automotive within the Xfinity Sequence race at Texas Motor Speedway, the place Iwuji was driving for B.J. McLeod Motorsports.
Smith sponsored Iwuji’s automotive at a race in 2020.
(Texas Motor Speedway)
“There couldn’t be a extra genuine producer partnership for me than one with Chevrolet,” Iwuji stated.
“Once I determined to pursue an expert racing profession, I began getting seat time in my Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06, which I nonetheless personal right this moment. The story of going from the Navy to NASCAR and having my Corvette play a key half in that journey makes this partnership not solely genuine, however inspirational for any particular person on the market trying to accomplish huge targets and goals. This journey provides folks hope and reveals how a lot life really rewards those that keep robust sufficient, lengthy sufficient.”
Smith is the most recent in a rising variety of skilled athletes getting concerned in NASCAR, an inventory that additionally consists of Michael Jordan and Floyd Mayweather.
