By Thomas Anderson
The Appleton Times
PHOENIX — Michael Jordan, the basketball legend whose name evokes six NBA championships and a global brand, has found a new arena for his unyielding competitive drive: the high-stakes world of NASCAR racing. In a recent interview at Phoenix Raceway with CBS Sunday Morning, Jordan opened up about his journey into stock car racing through his co-owned team, 23XI Racing, the legal battles that reshaped the sport, and his reflections on life after hanging up his basketball sneakers. At 63, Jordan remains as passionate about victory as ever, crediting a family legacy of speed and mechanics for fueling his latest pursuit.
Jordan's entry into NASCAR began with a personal connection. He told interviewer Gayle King that his late father, James Jordan, was a "diehard mechanic" who fixed neighborhood cars and instilled a love for automobiles in his son. "He used to work on all the neighborhood cars… he would fix our cars. We would never send our car to the service. He would figure out a way to fix it. So I think it gravitated into his love for cars. And he likes driving fast. My mom likes driving fast," Jordan said during the sit-down at the Arizona track.
The formation of 23XI Racing in 2020 marked the transition from rumor to reality for Jordan and his partner, three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin. Hamlin recounted the unlikely origin story: "I'll never forget. I saw an article that wasn't true. Says, 'Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are lookin' to purchase a NASCAR team.' I saw the article, sent it to him. He says, 'Not real, but if you want to make it real let me know.'" What started as a casual exchange quickly evolved into a powerhouse partnership, blending Jordan's business acumen with Hamlin's on-track expertise.
Since its inception, 23XI Racing has aimed to elevate NASCAR's profile, much like Jordan did for the NBA during his Chicago Bulls heyday. The team fields cars in the Cup Series, NASCAR's premier division, and has seen early success with driver Tyler Reddick securing three consecutive wins to open the season. Reddick, who drives the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI, described the motivational impact of having Jordan as a co-owner: "I mean, you're ready to run through a wall, first off. But then two, you know, hearing a champion, a winner, a legend tell you these things, and it's like, 'Oh wow, you know, we're not that far off. A few adjustments and we're right there.'"
Yet, Jordan's involvement has extended beyond the racetrack into the boardroom, where he challenged NASCAR's longstanding structure. The sport has been under the private control of the France family since 1948, when Bill France Sr. founded it. In 2016, NASCAR introduced a charter system, akin to a franchise model, guaranteeing 36 teams entry into every Cup Series race and offering new revenue streams. Jordan, however, viewed the setup as flawed. He described it as "lopsided" and "wrong," leading 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to file an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR in October 2024.
The lawsuit accused NASCAR of operating like a monopoly, dictating track selections, restricting car part suppliers, and limiting charter availability, which hampered teams' ability to compete fairly. Jordan's legal push highlighted growing frustrations within the racing community over revenue sharing and operational constraints. "This fight was needed, you know? And I was going to fight even harder. And if I got kicked out, at least I made people aware that change needs to happen in the sport, you know? And I think it's lopsided. And, you know, so I went in with the idea that I don't care — even if I lost, I won," Jordan told King.
The dispute reached a pivotal resolution in December 2025, when NASCAR agreed to a landmark settlement. The deal granted all teams "evergreen" charters with enhanced terms, providing long-term stability and better financial incentives. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France praised the outcome in a statement: "This outcome gives all parties the flexibility and confidence to continue delivering unforgettable racing moments for our fans, which has always been our highest priority since the sport was founded in 1948. We worked closely with race teams and tracks to create the NASCAR charter system in 2016, and it has proven invaluable to their operations and to the quality of racing across the Cup Series. Today's agreement reaffirms our commitment to preserving and enhancing that value, ensuring our fans continue to enjoy the very best of stock car racing for generations to come."
Jordan hailed the settlement as a "gamechanger," emphasizing its role in fostering fairness. Hamlin, reflecting on the effort required, noted, "It comes with sacrifice." Jordan echoed the sentiment, adding, "Yes. It's infectious. You know, you win, everybody's-- you got an unbelievable building. Everybody's happy. When you lose, there's a sadness within the building. Which is necessary because when you lose you want to be sad." The victory in court has positioned 23XI Racing for sustained growth, allowing Jordan to focus more on performance than litigation.
Beyond the racetrack battles, Jordan's interview delved into his post-basketball life, a phase he once envisioned as quieter. Retiring from the NBA in 2003 after stints with the Washington Wizards, Jordan sought respite from the intense scrutiny of his playing days. Yet, his NASCAR venture has thrust him back into the public eye. "It's a quieter life where I'm not really the show, even though as of late, you know, I've been in the forefront … a lot more than I probably anticipated. But I think the sport needs it to some degree, and my team needs it, and I want them to see the passion that I have for winning and for the-- you know, being a part of the team," he explained.
Comparing the pressures of fame, Jordan recalled the burdens of his Bulls era, where he bore the weight of being the league's face. "The burden of living a certain way, you know? Living up to-- trying to maintain whatever everybody's perspectives is for you or was for you. That is a burden, you know? And it's a lot of people that has to endure it. And there's a certain period of time that you can go through that, and then at some point in time you say, 'I'm tired of…doing that,'" he said. NASCAR, he noted, offers a different dynamic, one that "keeps me alive" without the same relentless individual spotlight.
Despite his immersion in racing, Jordan admitted a lingering pull toward basketball. "There's a huge piece of me that wants to pick a basketball up. But I've compensated that-- that feeling through NASCAR or through fishing … But that urge to dream, that if I wish I can still pick up a basketball and … I would love to do that. Believe me," he confessed. At 63, Jordan embraces his multifaceted legacy, from Air Jordan sneakers to ownership stakes in the Charlotte Hornets, now sold in 2023.
One accolade Jordan shuns is the title of Greatest of All Time, or GOAT, a label often bestowed upon him in sports debates. "There's no such thing as G.O.A.T., you know, to me. It's not to me. You know, it's only because I think, you know, we are transcended from other people, other athletes. We learn from other athletes. We progress the game as we move further. To say that one is better than the other is not really right," Jordan stated firmly. He views athletic achievement as a continuum, built on the foundations of predecessors like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.
Looking back, Jordan expressed no regrets about his path, valuing the lessons from triumphs and missteps alike. Relationships, he said, have been the true constants shaping his journey—from teammates to family to business partners like Hamlin. "If it ends today, you know, I will have a smile on my face, 100%," he remarked, a testament to a life defined by competition and connection.
The broader implications of Jordan's NASCAR foray extend to the sport's evolution. By injecting star power and advocating for structural reform, he has helped modernize an industry long dominated by tradition. As 23XI Racing eyes future seasons, with Reddick and Hamlin leading the charge, NASCAR stands to benefit from increased visibility and investment. Fans, who pack tracks like Phoenix Raceway for events drawing over 50,000 spectators, continue to witness the blend of speed and strategy that defines stock car racing.
More of Jordan's conversation with King, alongside insights from Hamlin and Reddick, will air Monday and Tuesday on CBS Mornings. As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on whether 23XI can translate courtroom wins into checkered flags, carrying forward the competitive spirit that has defined Jordan's remarkable career.