LeBron James isn’t changing careers, but his presence will be felt at the NASCAR FireKeepers Casino 400.
On Sunday, August 7, Chris Buescher’s #17 car will feature numerous references to James’ humanitarian efforts, including the LeBron James Family Foundation logo and multiple mentions of James’ I PROMISE school in his hometown of Los Angeles. Akron, Ohio.
Pretty cool to have the @LJFamFoundation on my way to Michigan.
The car looks fantastic! 😁 pic.twitter.com/UvOpr9XFja
— Chris Buescher (@Chris_Buescher) July 28, 2022
Following the reveal of the new look for the #17 car, James took to Twitter to share his excitement, sharing that it’s “for the love of my kids and families”.
So incredible !!!! Wow Wow Wow. For the love of my children and my family @LJFamFoundation @IPROMISESchool 🙏🏾✊🏾🤎👑 https://t.co/1jvdtbGPYA
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 28, 2022
So why NASCAR, why now, and why car #17?
Why is LeBron James on Chris Buescher’s #17 car?
James is one of the biggest stars the NBA has ever seen, in part because his stardom isn’t limited to the world of basketball.
Since 2011, James has held a minority stake in Liverpool FC, a stake which was increased in 2021 when James and his business partner Maverick Carter became official partners of Fenway Sports Group (FSG). As well as the Red Sox and Liverpool FC, FSG is a parent company of RFK Racing, the stock car organization that will field Buescher’s No.17 car as well as Brad Keselowski’s No.6 car.
The partnership paved the way for James’s foundation and school to feature prominently in Sunday’s race.
LeBron James’ history with NASCAR
As big a star as James is, it’s no surprise that Sunday isn’t the first time his name or likeness has appeared on a production car.
In 2005, an animated version of James appeared on Bobby Labonte’s #18 car for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The collaboration, which was carried out through a partnership with Powerade, led to a 20-year-old James attending the race in Tennessee.
NBA presence in NASCAR
LeBron’s presence at FireKeepers Casino 400 is a reminder that the NBA and NASCAR worlds have been linked for some time now.
The most notable example is Michael Jordan.
In 2020, Jordan, along with Denny Hamlin, founded 23XI Racing, an organization that fielded Bubba Wallace’s #23 car and Kurt Busch’s #45 car.
While Jordan now has the biggest ownership presence by far, former No. 1 draft pick Brad Daugherty has long been involved with NASCAR as a broadcaster and former team owner.
Other NBA stars to make appearances at NASCAR races include Magic Johnson, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Shaquille O’Neal.
2022 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule
| Date | Race | Track | Time (ET) | TV channel | Radio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 7 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway | 3 p.m. | UNITED STATES | DNR |
| August 14 | Federated Auto Parts 400 | Richmond Circuit | 3 p.m. | UNITED STATES | DNR |
| 21st of August | Go bowling at the Glen | Watkins Glen International | 3 p.m. | UNITED STATES | DNR |
| August 27 | Coke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway | 7 p.m. | NBC | DNR |
2022 NASCAR Calendar: Playoff Races
(all Eastern times)
| Date | Race | Track | Time (ET) | TV channel | Radio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 4 | South 500 | Darlington Racecourse | 6 p.m. | UNITED STATES | DNR |
| September 11th | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Circuit | 3 p.m. | UNITED STATES | DNR |
| September 17 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Circuit | 7:30 p.m. | UNITED STATES | PRN |
| September 25 | AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | 3:30 p.m. | UNITED STATES | PRN |
| October 2 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | DNR |
| October 9 | Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL | 2 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| October 16 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | PRN |
| October 23 | Dixie Vodka 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | DNR |
| October 30 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Motor Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC | DNR |
| November 6 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Racetrack | 3 p.m. | NBC | DNR |
In Canada, fans can watch all NASCAR races on TSN.