Michael Jordan’s love for NASCAR, fans baffled by NBA icon’s interest

NBA fans have been confused with Michael Jordan’s involvement in NASCAR over the past few years – after selling the Charlotte Hornets while becoming heavily involved with his stock car racing team, 23XI Racing.
Jordan is now rarely seen at NBA games and has no involvement with basketball – the sport that made him one of the most recognizable faces in the sports world while being seen as the greatest of all-time.
But Jordan’s decision to move away from basketball and towards NASCAR should not be surprising to fans, with the reason being the same behind his surprise NBA retirment – his father.
Jordan’s father was tragically murdered in 1993, with the 30-year-old going on to shock the sporting world that same year and walking away from basketball to attempt to play major league baseball. Of course, Jordan would return to the NBA two years later – going on to win three more championships and cementing his legacy as the greatest of all time. 
Jordan had been extremely close with his father, who had loved baseball and hoped that his son would play in the major leagues. And his father’s other love had been motorsports – with the legendary figure admitting his upbringing with him first found his love for the sport.
Speaking back in 2020, the NBA legend explained why he wanted to deepen his involvement with NASCAR by co-owning Racing 23XI alongside Denny Hamlin, having a love for the sport for decades.
He said: “My father used to take me to races. Not just me, but my whole family to races. He was a big car person. He used to work on engines for years.
“He became a big stock-car fan and he bred us to do the same. Went to Darlington, Rockingham, Charlotte, Talladega. Hoss Ellington used to be from Wilmington and he used to work on cars with Hoss Ellington way back in the day. I’ve been involved in car racing for a long period of time as a fan, obviously, through my parents, through my father.”
This weekend, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick will be one of four drivers competing to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship – in what could be Jordan’s teams first since it’s formation.
Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports is currently in a legal battle with NASCAR, but has recently refused to speak on the issue while putting his full attention on the season-defining race on Sunday.
On Monday following a hearing in the antitrust lawsuit, Jordan declared: “I’m looking forward to winning the championship this weekend.”