Will Shaquille O’Neal have a chance to elevate his winning score against Michael Jordan? The two legends faced each other in 21 matchups in the league, out of which ‘His Airness’ emerged on the top in 12 instances. Although the Lakers legend will never have a chance to change these numbers, he might have a shot at getting one over Jordan on the race track at the Daytona 500.

Fans of Michael Jordan would know about his auto racing organization, 23XI Racing. But Shaq in the Daytona 500? Well, no need to scratch your heads as the ‘Big Diesel,’ if he does, will be in the event with his designed car for Jimmie Johnson.

So, how did this even happen?

It all started with some good, old-fashioned social media banter. Shaq, never one to hold back, poked fun at Johnson’s seemingly endless NASCAR career. The friendly jabs quickly escalated into something more—a challenge. And not just any challenge—a free throw contest.

If you remember Shaq’s struggles with free throws during his NBA career, you’d understand why Johnson challenged the big man with his sore spot. It seems, however, that he overestimated his chances of winning as he placed the stakes quite high. If he won, Shaq would have to rock NASCAR gear of his choosing. But if the former LA star pulled off the win, he’d get full creative control over Johnson’s Daytona 500 car design.

When the two finally hit the court, Johnson came out swinging, taking an early 3-2 lead. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about O’Neal, it’s that you never count him out! With the game on the line, the 52-year-old found his groove, sinking the final two shots and securing a 5-4 comeback victory. That win gave him the golden ticket to design Jimmie’s Daytona 500 car.

But, here’s where it gets interesting. For Shaquille O’Neal’s car to compete against Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing machines, a few things need to fall into place. First, Jimmie Johnson has to qualify for the Daytona 500. Simple enough, right? But the real curveball comes from MJ’s side.

While 23XI Racing has been a staple at Daytona, their 2025 participation isn’t set in stone. In November, co-owner Denny Hamlin dropped a bit of a bombshell, admitting he couldn’t guarantee the team’s cars would hit the track next season. This uncertainty stems from an ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and chairman Jim France after a judge denied a temporary injunction that would’ve secured 23XI Racing’s status as a chartered team.

“I think it’s all TBD,” Hamlin said of the possibility at Dayton 500. “There’s certain things that we’re going to have to navigate, so I hope so.”

So, will we get a Shaq vs. Jordan showdown on the race track? It’s still up in the air. But if the stars align, we might just witness another iconic chapter of the two NBA legends pitted against each other.

The Daytona 500 would not be Shaquille O’Neal’s first experience in the field of racing

Back in 2010, the ‘Big Shamrock’ stepped out of his size-23 sneakers and into racing gear to take on none other than NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a head-to-head battle on the track. And this epic showdown wasn’t just for fun. It was part of Shaq Vs., the hit TV show that had O’Neal challenging top athletes in their own sports.

Even Dale Jr. admitted he was surprised—and a little impressed—that Shaq was willing to put the pedal to the metal. But let’s be real, NASCAR is a whole different beast than basketball, and despite the 4x NBA champ’s best efforts, Earnhardt came out on top in both of their short races.

Afterward, Shaq kept it real, calling those three hours on the track some of the toughest of his life. “I’ve heard some people say that these guys really aren’t athletes. Anybody who tries to tell me they aren’t athletes can kiss my a**,” O’Neal later said.

It became clear that the ‘Big Aristotle’ developed a love (and respect) for racing. But will he be able to outplay Michael Jordan‘s racing machines with his designed cars if the situation comes to it? Guess fans will have to wait for the answer.