The 2026 Cup Series season has so far belonged to 23XI Racing. They won three races in a row, the results alone attracting attention from the garage. Add to that the presence of co-owner Michael Jordan in the garage, and the spotlight is on the team.
Jordan’s celebrations on victory lane, time spent in the garage and his appearances in interviews have also attracted the attention of people beyond the stock car world. His connection to the team has even inspired some former NBA figures to pay attention to NASCAR. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, at least not according to Brad Keselowski.
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From Keselowski’s point of view, it would be difficult to argue that Jordan’s participation brought anything but positives.
In Phoenix, before Sunday’s race, the RFK Racing the owner said, “He made the decision and the choice to compete at a high level to commit. The fringe benefit to the sport is the brand he has outside of it, which comes naturally with him, which I think is a good thing.”
“I’m happy for him. I’m happy for the sport. It’s hard for me to see any negatives. I’m sure there probably are, but I don’t see them, and I’m really happy that he’s a part of our sport,” he following.
Keselowski also steered the conversation away from the idea that a big name alone provides value. In NASCAR, showing up in person carries weight. Some owners lead teams from offices far from the weekly grind. Others rarely appear on the tracks, but Jordannoted Keselowski, appears. He walks around the garage, chats with crew members and gets involved in the rhythm of race weekends.
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That said, Keselowski shared a different view. MJ has already climbed mountains in sports and business. Her Chicago Bulls his time filled trophy cases and his adventures outside the court built an empire.
Keselowski said if he lived the MJ life, he might take a break from enrolling in a program that requires flying across the country week after week in a sport where winning often slips through a team’s fingers.
In stock car racing, the math rarely favors just one team. The pelotons remain large, the competition remains tight and even the fast teams often leave the track without a victory. Owners can invest funds in cars, people and equipment, all while watching the checkered flag fall for someone else.
Because of this reality, Keselowski emphasized that although 23XI Race Although on a roll with three consecutive victories, the team has still inflicted more defeats than victories this season. For him, this makes MJ’s involvement even more significant. The drive to keep showing up, week after week, despite obstacles, indicates that MJ’s interest in NASCAR runs deeper than a passing fling.
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