Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing just made a decisive play to dominate the NASCAR Cup Series. The team announced on Wednesday that John Klausmeier has joined as their first-ever technical director. He starts in December to lead the engineering side of the operation from their Airspeed HQ in Huntersville, North Carolina. This hire signals that the team wants to turn their recent success into a championship run in 2027. It is a clear move to lock down the best minds in the sport before the new season begins.
A Veteran Who Knows How to Win
Klausmeier brings over two decades of experience to the job, according to EssentiallySports. His time at Stewart-Haas Racing spanned 16 years, where he mastered the technical side of the sport. He served as a crew chief for three different drivers and won three Cup Series races with them. Kurt Busch won his first race under his guidance in 2016. Aric Almirola claimed his first victory with Stewart-Haas in 2018. Chase Briscoe secured his maiden Cup win in 2022. These wins show he can get the best out of different talent.
Before this new role, Klausmeier held a similar technical position at Richard Childress Racing since 2024. He oversaw the entire technical operation there, including vehicle systems and design. Now he takes on that same responsibility for 23XI. X served as the platform where the team issued an official statement to confirm the hire. They noted that he will work with crew chiefs to ensure the cars stay competitive.
Building on a Strong Season
With eight race wins, 23XI Racing just concluded its most successful season to date. They also secured 23 top-five finishes and 45 top-10 results. The team even won two Crown Jewel races. Their driver lineup includes Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Corey Heim, and Riley Herbst. In 2026, Reddick saw the group help the team secure a fifth-place finish in the standings. Wallace finished 11th that same year.
Dave Rogers, the Senior Director of Competition, praised the addition of Klausmeier. He said, “We’re excited to welcome John to 23XI and look forward to the impact he will have on the organization.” Rogers also noted that the team has focused on steady growth each year. He added, “The organization has done a fantastic job of fielding competitive cars each weekend, and this move will help us build on the strong foundation that has been built at Airspeed.”
Three full-time entries will be fielded by 23XI Racing in 2027. Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Corey Heim will drive for the team. The goal is to maintain a high level of execution on the track. Klausmeier’s role is to ensure the cars perform at their best every weekend. His past work with drivers like Almirola and Briscoe shows he can help them reach their career-best results.
The settlement of the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR came before this decision. The outcome was favorable for the 23XI Racing team.
