DAYTONA BEACH, FL — February 1951: Mike Klapak of Warren, OH, drove Perry Smith’s 1951 Studebaker in the NASCAR Cup race held on the Daytona Beach-Road Course. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

No. 23 in NASCAR through the years

By Zack Albert | Published: October 4, 2021 32

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ISC Archives & Research Center | Getty Images

After a two-year hiatus, the No. 23 made a return to NASCAR's top division with 23XI Racing -- a joint venture between team co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, with Bubba Wallace stepping in as the driver.

The No. 23 has been around since the Cup Series' first season in 1949. Among the first photos of the No. 23 in competition is this picture of Ohio native Mike Klapak, who drove a Studebaker for car owner Perry Smith at the Daytona Beach-Road Course in 1951.

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1951: Driver Frank Mundy (L) poses with car owner Perry Smith (R) and NASCAR Commissioner Cannonball Baker (C) at a NASCAR Cup race. Mundy drove SmithÕs Studebaker to a pair of wins during the 1951 season and the team finished fifth in Cup points. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Frank Mundy, left, made Perry Smith's No. 23 Studebaker a winner in 1951, prevailing twice that season -- in Columbia, S.C., and Mobile, Ala. Smith is pictured at right alongside NASCAR Commissioner Erwin "Cannonball" Baker.

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LANGHORNE, PA - JUNE 21, 1953: ÒIron MikeÓ Magill poses with his Michael Jarema-owned Lincoln before the International 200 NASCAR Cup race at Langhorne Speedway. He would finish 16th in the race, which was also open to foreign makes of cars. Magill ran just five NASCAR Cup races during the 1952 and 1953 seasons. He also qualified and ran in the Indianapolis 500 for three consecutive years from 1957 through 1959. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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"Iron Mike" Magill stands alongside his Michael Jarema-owned No. 213 Lincoln at Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway. Magill made just five Cup Series starts, but one was in the No. 23 in the 1953 Southern 500. He finished 34th after a severe crash where his No. 23 Lincoln flipped outside of the Darlington track.

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SAVANNAH, GA - MARCH 28, 1954: Al Keller won the 200-lap NASCAR Grand National race at Oglethorpe Speedway driving George Miller's '54 Hudson. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)

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The second driver to win with No. 23 is Al Keller, here having a smoke and a soda alongside his No. 23 Hudson during his successful 1954 season. It was the first of two Cup Series wins that year for Keller, who first won at Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah, then gave Jaguar its only Cup Series win at the Linden (N.J.) Airport road course.

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UNKNOWN — Early-1950s: Early NASCAR driver Jack Choquette didn’t mind banging a few fenders when he raced and that earned him the nickname “Ruff House.” Choquette was the 1954 NASCAR National Modified champion. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Jack "Ruff House" Choquette was a hard-nosed racer who claimed the 1954 NASCAR National Modified championship. Four of his six Cup Series starts came in a No. 23 Hudson.

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DARLINGTON, SC — May 1960: Doug Yates of Chapel Hill, NC, drove this 1959 Plymouth convertible for car owner Raeford Johnson in the Rebel 300 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Doug Yates poses at the wheel of his droptop Plymouth owned by Raeford Johnson at Darlington Raceway in 1960.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL — February 12, 1961: A pair of 10-lap races were held to determine the pole positions for the twin 100-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. In the second of those races, Sal Tovella in a 1961 Ford (No. 23) leads defending NASCAR Cup champion Rex White’s 1961 Chevrolet (No. 4). (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Sal Tovella's No. 23 Ford paces Rex White's No. 4 during a Daytona International Speedway qualifying race in 1961.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL — February 20, 1972: Vic Elford of South London, England, drove this 1970 Plymouth owned by Don Robertson to a 10th place finish in the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Esteemed sports-car racer Vic Elford made just four NASCAR Cup Series starts, but his lone effort in Don Robertson's No. 23 Plymouth gave the Englishman a 10th-place finish in the 1972 Daytona 500.

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UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1986: Rookie Michael Waltrip, driver of the #23 Hawaiian Punch Pontiac, looks on during the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season.

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Before he became a two-time Daytona 500 winner, Michael Waltrip was a rookie in 1986, driving a colorful No. 23 entry owned by Chuck Rider.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Eddie Bierschwale takes a few pictures next to his car before starting the Daytona 500. Bierschwale would finish 28th and take home $12,080 for the race. (Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Images)

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Texas native Eddie Bierschwale gave the No. 23 a ride on a part-time basis in the 1988-92 seasons. Here, he poses with his No. 23 Oldsmobile on pit road at Daytona International Speedway.

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1994: Hut Strickin raced on the NASCAR Cup circuit during the year in Fords owned by Travis Carter and were sponsored by Camel Cigarettes. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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Alabama native Hut Strickin took on the No. 23 when he joined forces with team owner Travis Carter for the 1994 Cup Series season.

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11 Nov 1995: Driver Jimmy Spencer in action down the back straight away in his Smokin'' Joe''s Ford Thunderbird at the NASCAR Napa 500 race held in Atlanta, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: David Taylor/ALLSPORT

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Jimmy Spencer took over Carter's No. 23 in the 1995 season. The car's look would change over time, but Spencer was a fixture in the No. 23 Ford through the 1999 campaign.

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7 Feb 1999: Jimmy Spencer #23, races his car in a pre-qualifying heat during the Daytona 500 Speedweek at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. Mandatory Credit: David Taylor /Allsport

David Taylor, Allsport | Getty Images

R.J. Reynolds rebranded its sponsorship of Jimmy Spencer's No. 23 from Camel to Winston late in the 1997 season.

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17 Nov 2001: Hut Stricklin driving the #23 Hills Bros. Coffee Dodge Intrepid R/T during practice for the NASCAR Winston Cup NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Digital Image. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/ALLSPORT

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Hut Stricklin reappeared in the No. 23 in 2001, but with team owner Bill Davis in a Dodge.

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Watkins Glen, NY - AUGUST 9: Tom Hubert drives the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge Intrepid on August 9, 2002 during the NASCAR Winston Cup SIRIUS Satelite Radio The Glen at Watkins Glen International Raceway in Watkins Glen , New York. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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Road-racing ace Tom Hubert gave Bill Davis Racing's No. 23 Dodge a one-off start at Watkins Glen during the 2002 Cup Series season.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 18: Kenny Wallace passes through the garage area in the #23 Bill Davis Racing Dodge during practice for the NASCAR Winston Cup Subway 500 on October 18, 2003 at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Darrell Ingham /Getty Images) | Getty Images

Darrell Ingham | Getty Images

Kenny Wallace was Bill Davis' driver of choice starting late in the 2002 campaign and through the following season.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 7: Dave Blaney drives hsi #23 Whelen Dodge during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Daytona 500 on February 7, 2004 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Dave Blaney was among the drivers for a partial 2004 season for Bill Davis' No. 23 Dodge.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Mike Skinner drives his #23 Argent Dodge next to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his #8 Budweiser Chevrolet during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Gatorade Duel on February 17, 2005 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Mike Skinner made five starts in the No. 23 entry during the 2005 Cup Series season. Here, he races alongside Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 at Daytona International Speedway

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NASCAR driver Bill Lester poses with his car before the Golden Corral 500 NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, March 19, 2006. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Mike Zarrilli | Getty Images

Bill Lester stands beside his No. 23 entry ahead of his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2006. Lester made just two starts, but became the first Black driver to enter a race in NASCAR's top series since Willy T. Ribbs in 1986.

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SONOMA, CA - JUNE 22: Butch Leitzinger, driver of the #23 Caterpillar Toyota, drives during qualifying for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on June 22, 2007 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Sports-car pro Butch Leitzinger rounds the turns at Sonoma Raceway, making the last of his four Cup Series starts in 2007.

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 29: Terry Labonte drives the #23 FAS Lane Racing Ford during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mike Ehrmann | Getty Images

Terry Labonte drives a No. 23 Ford for car owner Frank Stoddard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2011. The Brickyard start marked the No. 23's first appearance in four years on the Cup Series circuit.

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RIDGEWAY, VA - OCTOBER 26: Scott Riggs, driver of the #23 North Texas Pipe Chevrolet, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Geoff Burke | Getty Images

Scott Riggs made 20 starts in a No. 23 entry for team owner Robert Richardson Sr. in the 2012 Cup Series season.

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AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 07: Alex Bowman, driver of the #23 Dumb & Dumber 2 Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 7, 2014 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

Alex Bowman broke into the Cup Series as a rookie with BK Racing's No. 23 Toyota team in 2014. Dr. Pepper was a primary sponsor, but the team spun off to promote the sequel to the movie "Dumb and Dumber."

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 08: Jeb Burton, driver of the #23 Dr Pepper Toyota, drives on pit road during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 8, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jerry Markland | Getty Images

Jeb Burton made several starts in BK Racing's No. 23 entry during the 2015 campaign.

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KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 15: David Ragan, driver of the #23 Dr Pepper Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 15, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Veteran David Ragan was among the drivers of the No. 23 during BK Racing's time in the Cup Series. He ran a full season with the organization in 2016.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Joey Gase, driver of the #23 Best Home Furnishings Toyota, drives during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Cliff Hawkins | Getty Images

Joey Gase made his first Daytona 500 start in BK Racing's No. 23 entry in 2017, finishing 23rd.

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MARTINSVILLE, VA - APRIL 02: Gray Gaulding, driver of the #23 SunFrog.com Toyota, pits during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jerry Markland | Getty Images

Gray Gaulding made several starts in the No. 23 in 2017. Here he brings the BK Racing entry to pit road at Martinsville Speedway.

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SONOMA, CA - JUNE 24: Alon Day drives the #23 earthwater Toyota during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 24, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

NASCAR Euro Series standout Alon Day made his Cup Series debut at Sonoma Raceway in 2017, wheeling BK Racing's No. 23 Toyota.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 01: Corey LaJoie, driver of the #23 Dr Pepper Toyota, pits during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Corey LaJoie found a home for 16 Cup Series races in 2017 with BK Racing's No. 23.

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WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 04: Spencer Gallagher, driver of the #23 Allegiant Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 4, 2018 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

Spencer Gallagher made his only NASCAR Cup Series start in 2018, driving the No. 23 Toyota to 35th place at Watkins Glen International.

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 10: JJ Yeley, driver of the #23 Toyota, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 10, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

JJ Yeley rounded out the 2018 season for the No. 23 entry, driving for team owner Bob Jenkins, whose Front Row Motorsports operation bought out the assets of BK Racing in August of that year. It marked the last time the No. 23 was on the track in the Cup Series before the debut of 23XI Racing in 2021.

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TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 04: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, exits his car rain delay in the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 04, 2021 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Bubba Wallace became the third driver to carry the No. 23 to victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, handing 23XI Racing its first win on Oct. 4, 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway. Wallace made history as just the second Black driver to prevail in NASCAR's top series, joining Hall of Famer and racing pioneer Wendell Scott.