One of the newest teams in NASCAR’s top development series is led by one of the fastest and most successful players to ever pick up a football. Former Arizona Cardinal and Dallas Cowboys legend, Emmitt Smith, has joined NASCAR driver and Naval Officer, Jesse Iwuji, to form Jesse Iwuji Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
This isn’t the first jump into NASCAR for Pro Football Hall of Famer, Emmitt Smith. The Cowboys legend sponsored Iwuji through his company, Notable.Live, in a one-off race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020. An all-star list of former NFL greats such as Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, and more have all had brief stints in NASCAR ownership at some point post-football. Smith strives to be different from other former athletes and help NASCAR evolve and grow, along with having a successful business venture.
After 13 years as a Dallas Cowboy and three Super Bowl rings, Smith became an Arizona Cardinal for two seasons before signing a one-day contract with the Cowboys and retiring. Smith totaled 1,405 yards and 11 touchdowns during his tenure as a Cardinal. The Florida-native would eventually be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010
Jesse Iwuji was a safety for the Naval Academy football team and spent seven years on active duty as a surface warfare officer before transitioning to the Navy Reserve in 2017. The 34-year-old has been racing in NASCAR’s national touring series since 2018 and began his NASCAR journey through the regional series in 2015. This is the Texas native’s first opportunity to race in a full-time capacity.
The team adorns the number 34 on their Xfinity Series entry. The number honors the legacy of Wendell Scott, the first full-time black NASCAR driver and became the first black driver to win a race in 1963. The No. 34 team will attempt to qualify in Saturday’s United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway. Qualifying begins at 10:00 a.m. MST with the race at 2:30 p.m. MST on FS1.
