Michael Jordan Finds Racing Success After Basketball Executive Struggles

Michael Jordan's transition from basketball legend to motorsports mogul has finally hit its stride, with his 23XI Racing operation delivering the hottest start to a NASCAR Cup Series season in history.

After decades of mixed results as a basketball executive, Jordan has found his competitive edge in a different arena. Tyler Reddick, piloting the No. 45 car, captured four victories in the first six Cup Series races of 2026, including a dramatic last-lap triumph at the season-opening Daytona 500.

The success marks a stunning turnaround for Jordan's motorsports venture, launched in 2021 with co-owner and active driver Denny Hamlin. Bubba Wallace, driving the No. 23 car that helped establish the team, has maintained remarkable consistency with no finish worse than 11th through five races.

"I'm cursed with this competitive gene, that anything I do is from a competitive lens," Jordan told CBS's Gayle King. "In some ways, that keeps me young. It keeps me aggressively thinking positively."

The racing triumph comes after Jordan's challenging tenure as an NBA executive. His involvement with the Washington Wizards as a minority partner beginning in 1999 failed to translate into sustained success, despite his brief playing comeback. His 13-year ownership of the Charlotte Hornets yielded just three playoff appearances and zero series victories before he sold his stake for $3 billion in 2023.

Now Jordan sits atop NASCAR's owner standings alongside established powerhouses Roger Penske, Rick Hendrick, and Joe Gibbs. The achievement becomes even more remarkable considering 23XI Racing nearly faced extinction due to Jordan's legal battle with NASCAR.

In October 2025, Jordan broke ranks with nearly every Cup Series team to file an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR's governing France family. The basketball icon challenged what he viewed as monopolistic practices, objecting to teams being taxed for competing while NASCAR hoarded revenue from multibillion-dollar media deals.

"I actually wiped out one of the 23XI cars last year going for a win on the final lap," admitted Hamlin, creating the unusual conflict of interest between his ownership role and driving duties with Joe Gibbs Racing.

"And he got a phone call from me," Jordan shot back during their joint interview.

The legal gamble paid off dramatically. After inflammatory text messages surfaced showing NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps insulting team owners, public sentiment shifted toward Jordan's position. Phelps ultimately resigned in January 2026, and NASCAR agreed to settle the lawsuit.

Jordan's connection to racing runs deep, rooted in childhood memories of his father James taking the family to North Carolina tracks to watch legends like Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough. His partnership with Hamlin began through a Jordan Brand sponsorship deal, evolving into legitimate ownership when Hamlin sent Jordan an article about their rumored team purchase with the message: "It's not real, but if you want to make it real, let me know."

The success extends beyond the track, with Jordan actively addressing NASCAR's racial politics by launching his team with Wallace, who successfully advocated for banning the Confederate flag. Jordan has worked to broaden the sport's appeal, hosting rappers and celebrities at 23XI's team hauler.

"Basketball is just a small part of your life," reflected Charles Barkley. "No matter how great you are, you're gonna be done as a young person. You have to find something else to bring you joy and happiness. I'm proud of his success in NASCAR."

With the Bristol Motor Speedway race approaching this Sunday, Jordan's competitive fire burns as bright as ever in his second act.