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June 14, 1998, USA: Michael Jordan in the locker room looking exhausted after winning his sixth NBA, Basketball Herren, USA title on June 14, 1998. USA – ZUMAm67 19980614zafm67002 Copyright: xCharlesxCherneyx
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0047234962h.jpg?width=600)
via Imago
June 14, 1998, USA: Michael Jordan in the locker room looking exhausted after winning his sixth NBA, Basketball Herren, USA title on June 14, 1998. USA – ZUMAm67 19980614zafm67002 Copyright: xCharlesxCherneyx
Michael Jordan’s biography on the NBA website reads: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” And of course, he is. But now, after his retirement from professional basketball, Jordan has turned into an American businessman and NASCAR team owner. But wait! What does Michael Jordan has to do with NASCAR?
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This is a question that has crossed many minds since MJ invested in a Cup Series team – 23XI Racing. In 2021, MJ appeared in a Fox Sports interview with 23XI co-owner co-owner Denny Hamlin and driver Bubba Wallace. During the conversation, journalist Michael Strahan pointed out that it is unlikely for people to associate a basketball legend with NASCAR.
To this, the Hall of Fame inducted basketball legend replied; “I know.” Further, he explained; “I grew up in NASCAR. My father used to pack the whole family in. Go to Darlington, we go to Rockingham, we go to Charlotte, we came down to Daytona, Talladega. And we would just go and spend the whole day and from that point on I’ve been hooked on NASCAR.”
This answer by MJ made it clear that a whole bunch of childhood memories laid down the foundation for MJ’s love for the sport. Furthermore, Strahan asked Jordan if his childhood love for the sport means that he would be at every 23XI Racing race. To this, MJ replied; “If I am not there physically, you can believe I am there mentally.”
Furthermore, Jordan also shared what exactly pushed him to take this decision. Sharing the ownership of the team with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, Jordan said that he has been thinking of owning a NASCAR team for a long time.
Michael Jordan on being a ‘black’ co-owner of a Cup team
The interview’s host Michael Strahan asked Michael Jordan about how long did he have the idea of being a co-owner of a cup team. And while replying to it Jordan revealed;
“I thought about it so many different times because I have never seen, you know, a black owner or someone of color that really owned their team or could dictate what happens with the team.”
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![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1006930041h.jpg?width=150&blur=15)
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WATCH THIS STORY: “I’ll Take This to My Grave” – Bubba Wallace Delves Into The Most Horrifying Experience of His Career, 10 Years Before Joining Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Team
Furthermore, he shared that the reason for this might be that the community in general is not that dominant in the sport. He said; “You know, obviously, we haven’t really been dominant in this sport but that opportunity has never been presented.”
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