The 2026 Cup Series season has belonged to 23XI Racing so far. They have won three races in a row, with the results alone drawing attention across the garage. Add to that the presence of co owner Michael Jordan in the garage, and the spotlight is firmly on the team.<\/p>\n
Jordan\u2019s celebrations in victory lane, time spent in the garage, and appearances in interviews have also caught the attention of people beyond the stock car world. His connection to the team has even nudged some former figures from the NBA to pay attention to NASCAR. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, at least not according to Brad Keselowski.<\/p>\n
From Keselowski\u2019s perspective, it would be hard to argue that Jordan\u2019s involvement has brought anything but positives.<\/p>\n
In Phoenix ahead of Sunday\u2019s race, the RFK Racing<\/a> owner said, \u201cHe\u2019s made the decision and choice to participate at a high level to be engaged. The fringe benefit for the sport is the brand that he has outside of it, which naturally comes with him, which I think is a great thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy for him. I\u2019m happy for the sport. It\u2019s hard for me to see any negatives. I\u2019m sure there are probably some out there, but I don\u2019t see them, and I\u2019m genuinely happy that he\u2019s a part of our sport,\u201d he continued<\/a>.<\/p>\n Keselowski also steered the conversation away from the notion that a big name alone brings value. In NASCAR, showing up in person carries weight. Some owners run teams from offices far from the weekly grind. Others appear at tracks rarely, but Jordan<\/a>, Keselowski noted, shows up. He walks through the garage, speaks with crew members, and takes part in the cadence of race weekends.<\/p>\n That said, Keselowski shared a different perspective. MJ has already climbed mountains in sports and business. His Chicago Bulls<\/a> stint filled trophy cases, and his ventures outside the court built an empire.<\/p>\n Keselowski said that if he lived MJ\u2019s life, he might pause before signing up for a schedule that requires flights across the country week after week in a sport where victory often slips through a team\u2019s fingers.<\/p>\n In stock-car racing, the math rarely favors any single team. Fields remain large, competition stays tight, and even teams with speed often leave the track without a win. Owners can pour funds into cars, people, and equipment, and still watch the checkered flag fall for someone else.<\/p>\n