Other than his overarching basketball legacy, history will link Michael Jordan with NASCAR forever. But what did it take to get to this point?

The world sees MJ as the iconic NBA entity that he is. But on the side, luck didn’t accompany him in business. However, his NASCAR success silenced any critics, pushing the 63-year-old to break the silence on the journey.

“I’m cursed with this competitive gene, that anything I do is from a competitive lens,” he told CBS’s Gayle King. “In some ways, that keeps me young. It keeps me aggressively thinking positively. [It] has transcended and taken over everything that I do.”

After his ownership failure with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets, a 57-year-old Jordan cofounded his NASCAR company, 23XI Racing, in 2020. This tipped off a partnership with 3X Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.

And the NASCAR world hasn’t been the same ever since. Winning 13 races and securing 10 pole positions by April 2026, 23XI has earned the “Big 4” status. By April 2026, they’ve won four of the first seven races of the season.

Putting aside Tyler Reddick’s individual feats, MJ saw this struggling start-up transition into a championship contender. But behind it was his zeal, and also a rumour.

The Rumour That Put Together the 23XI

By now, 23XI has nearly done everything a high-profile NASCAR team would’ve done, sitting at the pinnacle of success. But what if the team never formed? Well, it could’ve been the case had Hamlin turned a blind eye to what he considered a rumour.

“I'll never forget. I saw an article that wasn't true. Says, 'Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are looking to purchase a NASCAR team,'" Hamlin said. "I saw the article, sent it to him (MJ). 'Not real, but if you want to make it real, let me know.'"

And this marked a new era in Michael Jordan’s life, outside of basketball, but with the same approach he brought into the hardwood: competition.

Moving forward, what major success do you think awaits MJ’s team? Comment it down.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Souvik Roy