Is Michael Jordan Saving NASCAR? MJ, Racing Have History

For the higher a part of the final twenty years, Michael Jordan has spent his time away from the cameras and out of the limelight. To see essentially the most iconic athlete in American historical past again within the public eye but once more has been a revelation to many, however the cause Jordan has re-emerged shouldn’t be shocking to anybody who is aware of what his authentic sporting love was as a younger boy rising up within the inventory automobile capital of the world. 

Jordan spent his childhood touring to races all through North Carolina together with his father, drawing an instantaneous affinity for the game meaning extra within the state than it does anyplace else on the planet. Inventory automobile racing, particularly NASCAR, grew to become such an impassioned following for the Jordans that they usually scheduled their household holidays round attending races. There’s even a viral image of Jordan with “The King” of inventory automobile racing, Richard Petty, forward of the 1982 World 600 after Jordan had simply completed his freshman season at UNC. 

Two Daytona 500 champions

Michael Jordan and Richard Petty in 1982 pic.twitter.com/CDQns40K4f

— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) February 15, 2026

From Lifelong Fan To Staff Proprietor

Jordan made his official foray into the NASCAR world in 2020, partnering with three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin to type the 23XI (pronounced 23-11) racing staff that summer time. 23XI made its first official entry on the 2021 Daytona 500 after Bubba Wallace agreed to a deal to develop into the staff’s inaugural driver. Wallace secured the staff and Jordan’s first Cup Collection win at Talladega in October 2021.

In 2022, the staff signed former NASCAR Cup Collection champion Kurt Busch to a deal to drive the No. 45 automobile, however a again harm sustained throughout a mid-season crash at Pocono was successfully the tip of his driving profession. That led to arguably essentially the most pivotal transfer within the early historical past of 23XI racing forward of the 2023 season. The staff purchased out the rest of Tyler Reddick’s contract from Richard Childress Racing and put him within the No. 45 seat. 

Since Reddick’s arrival, he’s taken the mantle from Wallace as 23XI’s prime canine, incomes eight of his 11 whole profession race victories since becoming a member of the staff 4 seasons in the past. Reddick made the Championship Race in 2024, ending a profession excessive fourth within the factors standings whereas establishing himself on the highest tier of drivers within the sport. Reddick surprisingly went winless in 2025, however what he’s completed to begin 2026 has made him one of the talked about athletes in all the sports activities world in current weeks.

Historic Begin To 2026

Reddick kicked off 23XI’s season by profitable the 2026 Daytona 500, aptly nicknamed “The Tremendous Bowl of Inventory Automotive Racing”, on February 15. Contemplating the fanfare surrounding that race’s winner, Reddick then spent all the ensuing week fulfilling media and company obligations earlier than making his means all the way down to Atlanta (one other notoriously robust observe) to run the second race of the season. The place most different drivers would have succumbed to the added distractions and strain, Reddick thrived and stole a second consecutive victory at a superspeedway due to some handy luck as nicely. 

WHERE DID HE COME FROM?!

TYLER REDDICK IS A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/IaXoaKwwMf

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 15, 2026

At each races, FOX’s Jamie Little landed each pre and submit race interviews with Jordan, presumably for no price by any means. It’s a laughable distinction to the deal Jordan offered to NBC earlier than the NBA season. He was supposedly going to be an occasional presence within the community’s basketball protection however as a substitute gave a single transient interview to Mike Tirico, which was reduce into a number of completely different components and aired throughout a number of video games. Little has develop into Jordan’s chosen liaison in NASCAR media, and he reportedly seeks her out deliberately and completely when being bombarded with interview requests on the observe.

At Circuit of the Americas in Austin this previous Sunday, Reddick put collectively his most spectacular efficiency of the trio and have become the primary driver in NASCAR historical past to win three consecutive races to start a season, dusting the sector on what is basically america’ nationwide street course. Essentially the most spectacular a part of the win was the truth that he held off street course ringer Shane Van Gisbergen for the latter portion of the race, which is not any small activity as Van Gisbergen is broadly thought-about among the many finest closed wheel street course drivers of all time.

A Consequential Combo

After the race, an ecstatic Jordan gave yet one more interview to Little. The basketball legend gave Reddick credit score for holding off such a frightening expertise in Van Gisbergen, who he referred to by his nickname SVG. He then shared a passionate second with co-owner Denny Hamlin, telling his buddy and enterprise companion “I get all of the credit score, however you the brains, dude!”

Michael Jordan to Denny Hamlin:

„I get all of the credit score however you the brains, dude!“pic.twitter.com/09XbDkqONo https://t.co/eLMpEpXFyc

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 2, 2026

Hamlin, a basketball fanatic who has spent his grownup years residing in North Carolina, initially got here to know Jordan by his courtside attendance of Charlotte Bobcats (after which Hornets) video games whereas Jordan was nonetheless a majority proprietor of the franchise. The pair had been first launched at halftime of a 2010 recreation, the place Jordan was reportedly simply as all in favour of assembly Hamlin as Hamlin was in assembly him. Not lengthy after, Hamlin reached an settlement with Jordan Model to be the corporate’s first NASCAR athlete. 

Whereas the wins on the observe have definitely been one thing and have commanded essentially the most consideration, essentially the most significant factor Jordan has completed since becoming a member of NASCAR was suing the group. Jordan, Hamlin and the remainder of the 23XI staff, in addition to Entrance Row Racing and Richard Childress Racing, filed an antitrust lawsuit towards NASCAR with regard to their unbalanced constitution system along with alleged anti-competitive practices by the household accountable for the game.

Saving The Sport?

The case went to trial on December 5 and was shockingly settled on December 11, re-instating the charters for 23XI and Entrance Row Racing, who would have definitely needed to fold had NASCAR gained the lawsuit. Charters for all NASCAR groups grew to become everlasting with the settlement and groups additionally obtained an elevated income share of the game’s media and endorsement offers. 

Michael Jordan speaking concerning the settlement, the legacy of NASCAR, and the potential impression of the lawsuit on the game’s future.

“I grew up watching his father [France] construct this sport…I didn’t wish to tear it down…”#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/33YnsBCpuX

— Michael Praats (@michael_praats) December 11, 2025

Whereas loads of informal followers are saying Jordan is saving NASCAR as a result of he’s bringing consideration to what was thought-about by many to be an ailing sport, he actually saved the game from itself this winter. Jordan was current at every court docket continuing and even testified, and make no mistake, that made a distinction within the public notion which was a driving pressure in securing the settlement.