Michael Jordan’s interest in auto-racing goes all the way back to childhood. Jordan would tag along with his father James to weekend getaways at the racetrack around the family’s hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina growing up. His college teammate Brad Daugherty, a long-time NASCAR co-owner, kept his interest in the sport alive before he become the most famous athlete on Earth. After retiring as the greatest basketball player of all-time, Jordan became principle owner of the Charlotte Hornets, and that’s where he formed a friendship with legendary driver Denny Hamlin, who was often spotted courtside at games.
Jordan and Hamlin went into business together when they purchased a NASCAR team in 2020 with Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 car. Fast forward a few years and Jordan is a now fixture at NASCAR races doing what he’s known best for: winning at the highest level.
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Jordan made more history on Sunday when his driver Tyler Reddick won the Circuit of the Americas. Reddick drives the No. 45 car for Jordan and Hamlin’s 23XI Racing, and he just became the first driver in the modern history of the sport to win the first three races of the year.
Reddick opened the year with a win at the Daytona 500. Then he won the next week in Atlanta. By winning at the Austin road course on Sunday, Reddick gave Jordan the third three-peat of his career. Jordan was again glowing after the race talking about Reddick’s guile, his love for the sport, and the competitiveness that still burns inside of him.
Jordan met Reddick in Victory Lane after the race, where he congratulated him and offered words of encouragement.
If you know anything about Michael Jordan, you know he loves to win. As Reddick has made history by winning of the first three NASCAR races of the year, Jordan has been his biggest supporter, and it’s bringing him a level of triumph the public hasn’t seen from him since he won his last championship with the Chicago Bulls.
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Winning the Daytona 500 was the breakthrough for both Reddick as a driver and Jordan as a team owner. MJ was glowing after winning racing biggest race: “I can’t even believe it. It was so gratifying.”
“I feel like I won a championship, but until I get my ring I won’t even know,” Jordan said.
Jordan was interviewed again in Victory Lane the next week in Atlanta, and deflected all the credit to turn the spotlight on Reddick.
Jordan had a three-peat on his mind as NASCAR came to Austin. He told his driver that he was ready for another win.
“He reminded me early this week, he does things in threes. He expected no less today,” Reddick said of Jordan’s two runs of three consecutive NBA Finals wins. “I was really glad to be able to live up to the standards that he has for us and be able to deliver three in a row. That was really cool to share that moment with him.”
When it was over, Reddick recreated Jordan’s famous photo from the Phoenix locker room after the Bulls’ first three-peat in 1993.
Jordan earned a big win with NASCAR before the season even began. He was the lead plaintiff in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, and won a landmark ruling that made team ownership more equitable. Jordan and Hamlin bought a third charter or team car before this season, and now he’s back like he never left Victory Lane with a driver rocking his old 45 comeback number.
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Glimpses into Jordan’s life have been few and far between since he stepped out of the public eye with his retirement from basketball. He’s still one of the most famous men on Earth, but at age-63, he hasn’t had an outlet to show off his love for competing. NASCAR is giving Jordan what he’s always wanted: an opportunity to win and win big.
Jordan getting to experience the thrill of victory all over again via NASCAR is quickly becoming one of the best stories in sports. Reddick deserves most of the credit, but he’s got a great team behind him, and that includes Jordan.
Jordan never won four championships in a row. We can’t wait to see if he and Reddick can pull it off on the racetrack.
