From champagne showers in the locker room to celebrating on the NASCAR podium, Michael Jordan found his place. In February, 23XI claimed its first Daytona 500 win. Jordan was in high spirits following the win. The satisfaction on his face seemed to be the same as when His Airness won his six NBA championships. And it’s difficult not to appreciate Jordan’s journey.

He and Charles Barkley may not have spoken in years. But a fractured relationship didn’t stop the Hall of Famer from praising his former friend. Barkley knows just what winning NASCAR’s biggest race would have meant to Michael Jordan. Most importantly, he’s proud of the Bulls icon for finding a love beyond basketball.

“Whatever you have to find, basketball is just a small part of your life. No matter how great you are, you’re going to be done as a young person. You have to find something else that brings you joy and happiness… I’m happy about his success in NASCAR. I know he loves fishing. But I’m proud of his success in NASCAR. He’s always been great for me, telling me how to make money and things like that. And so man, I’m proud of his success,” Barkley said on TNT.

The two fell out more than a decade ago when Barkley, doing his job as an analyst on Inside the NBA, openly criticized Jordan’s decisions as owner of the Charlotte Hornets (then the Bobcats). Jordan took it personally, called Barkley that night, and their close friendship ended in an expletive-filled argument. They haven’t talked since.

For a lot of players, life after basketball is actually the toughest part. Barkley is fortunate enough to have found something, too. “I love doing television. I’ve been blessed to do this for a long time,” he added. Barkley’s been a part of Inside the NBA for over 25 years. He considers himself ‘lucky’ to have a job that still keeps him connected to the game.

In that way, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley are cut from the same cloth. They are both extremely passionate, and neither is shy about going to bat for what they believe in. Jordan made waves by fighting for his driver’s long-term future with a recent lawsuit against NASCAR. Charles Barkley strongly criticized TNT for failing to secure media rights with the NBA. Such defiance is an extension of their complete immersion in their work.

Michael Jordan still dreams about basketball

That fire burns just as bright when it comes to NASCAR. For Jordan, owning 23XI isn’t just a business venture — it’s personal. His father was a mechanic and a car enthusiast, so cars were always part of his world. And when he watches Tyler Reddick race from the pit, that same adrenaline he once felt on the court comes rushing back, feeding the competitive drive that never really goes away.

But even the great Michael Jordan can’t completely shake his first love. As electric as those NASCAR moments are, they all connect back to one thing — how deeply Jordan still misses the hardwood.

“It’s not just teenie, it’s a huge piece. But I compensated for that feeling with NASCAR. But that urge to dream that if I wish, I can still pick up a basketball. Oh, I would love to do that. Believe me. My competitive juices say yeah, I would definitely love to do that,” MJ said when asked about missing basketball.

The Daytona 500 isn’t just any race — it’s often called “The Great American Race,” NASCAR’s most prestigious event and one of the biggest spectacles in all of motorsports.

For a relatively new team like 23XI Racing, which only started competing in 2021, winning it in February 2026 with driver Tyler Reddick was a massive milestone. It’s the kind of victory that puts you in the history books and explains why Jordan’s joy looked a lot like those old championship celebrations.

And that’s really what this is all about. The Hall of Famer joined NBC as a ‘special contributor’, hoping he could give something back to the game. But Michael Jordan also made it clear that he’s all-in with NASCAR. For now, building a successful NASCAR team is the fuel that keeps Jordan’s competitive fire burning. His competitive urge may never be satisfied. But Jordan found something that makes him feel “alive.”

It’s not gliding through the air and humiliating defenders anymore. But it does a great job of compensating for what Michael Jordan misses the most.