Michael Jordan on NASCAR, life after basketball and the one title he won't claim Michael Jordan is bringing his championship mindset to NASCAR, saying he's "cursed with this competitive gene" that keeps him chasing victories — and change. Jordan, co-founder of the NASCAR team 23XI Racing, told Gayle King that his passion for the sport traces back to his late father, James, a "diehard mechanic." He described how his father would fix neighborhood cars, refusing to send them to service, and how this early exposure to mechanics and speed shaped his love for cars and driving. "He used to work on all the neighborhood cars… he would fix our cars. We would never send our car to the service. He would figure out a way to fix it. So I think it gravitated into his love for cars. And he likes driving fast. My mom likes driving fast," Jordan said during an interview at the Phoenix Raceway for "CBS Sunday Morning." From rumor to reality Jordan founded 23XI Racing in 2020 with legendary driver and three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin — a partnership Hamlin says began with a rumor that unexpectedly turned into reality. "I'll never forget. I saw an article that wasn't true. Says, 'Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are lookin' to purchase a NASCAR team,'" Hamlin recalled. "I saw the article, sent it to him. He says, 'Not real, but if you want to make it real let me know.'" This initial exchange led to the formation of 23XI Racing, marking Jordan's entry into a sport he had long admired. NASCAR's charter system and the antitrust case NASCAR has been privately owned and operated since 1948 by the France family. In 2016, the organization introduced a charter system, a franchise-like model that guaranteed 36 teams entry into each Cup Series race and promised new revenue opportunities.#michael_jordan #phoenix_raceway #denny_hamlin #23xi_racing #nascar
Who's Chasing Who? Nobody Knows Quite Yet Three weeks into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, fans are more focused on figuring out which drivers are in contention than worrying about allegations of cheating. The early-season schedule has left many questions unanswered, as the competition remains unclear. Tyler Reddick leads the standings after securing three consecutive wins to start the year, a feat no driver had achieved before. His success highlights the strength of his team, 23XI Racing, and his own exceptional skill behind the wheel. However, Reddick’s dominance so far has come at drafting tracks like Daytona International Speedway and Circuit of the Americas, which make up only 10 of the 36 races on the Cup calendar. This limited exposure to different track types complicates predictions about his long-term competitiveness. The upcoming race at Phoenix Raceway marks a shift in the schedule, as it is the first traditional oval on the calendar. This race, along with others like Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, and Martinsville Speedway, will provide a clearer picture of which teams have the speed and execution to succeed. These races are seen as critical for determining the true standings, as they represent the core of the season’s challenges. Defending series champion Kyle Larson, despite his reputation, is currently 15th in the standings, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman trails further back at 36th. Both drivers are expected to remain in that range after Phoenix, as Bowman will miss the race. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell are also positioned around 23rd and 24th, respectively, with Chase Briscoe of JGR in 27th.#phoenix_raceway #tyler_reddick #23xi_racing #daytona_international_speedway #chase_ellipsis
How to Watch INDYCAR Desert Double Race at Phoenix: TV Channel, Streaming, Time The 2026 INDYCAR season will feature a high-octane doubleheader at Phoenix Raceway as part of the Desert Double event, with the second race of the year set for Saturday. The Good Ranchers 250 will take place at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, with live coverage also available on FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and the FOX Sports website. This event marks the first of two motorsports races on FOX this weekend, with the NASCAR Cup Series set to race on Sunday. The 2026 INDYCAR season officially kicks off with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a street race in Florida, before returning to Phoenix for the second race. Alex Palou, who secured his fourth INDYCAR championship in 2025, continued his dominance by winning the season-opening race at St. Petersburg. The victory solidifies his position as a top contender for the 2026 title. INDYCAR’s last appearance at Phoenix Raceway was in 2018, when Josef Newgarden claimed victory. Since 2005, the series has only raced at the one-mile desert track three times—2016, 2017, and 2018. The return to Phoenix is expected to draw significant attention, given the track’s unique challenges and the competitive nature of the series. The next INDYCAR race of the 2026 season will be the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, a street race in Texas set for Sunday, March 15, at 12:30 p.m. ET. This event will also air on FOX and FOX One. Throughout the season, every INDYCAR race will be broadcast live on FOX, including the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24. For viewers without cable, live-streaming options include the FOX Sports website, FOX One, and the FOX Sports app. Additional services like YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV carry FOX content.#fox #phoenix_raceway #indycar #alex_palou #java_house_grand_prix_of_arlington
David Malukas Earns First Career NTT P1 Award at Phoenix David Malukas secured his first career NTT P1 Award in qualifying for the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, marking a significant milestone in his IndyCar career. The Chicago-area native, who joined Team Penske this offseason for his fifth season in the series, turned the fastest two-lap qualifying average of 175.383 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. His pole position sets the stage for a potential first career victory in the 250-lap race scheduled for Saturday. Malukas, who previously earned second-place finishes three times last season with AJ Foyt Racing, expressed his excitement about finally securing pole position. “Finally!” he said. “I’m so happy. So many P2s. The story of ovals last season was we had it, waited until the last few guys and then boom, you get P2. But finally we got it.” Malukas was the 13th of 24 drivers to attempt qualifying on the 1-mile desert oval after leading practice sessions at 175.605 mph. The pole position also marked a front-row sweep for Team Penske, the most successful team in recent years on short ovals. Josef Newgarden, who won at Phoenix in 2018, qualified second at 174.548 mph in the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing had a breakthrough performance on the short oval, a challenge for the team in recent seasons. Graham Rahal qualified third at 173.993 mph in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda, while rookie Mick Schumacher, competing in his first oval race, secured the fourth starting spot at 173.667 mph in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda. Schumacher, a Formula One veteran, praised his team’s effort. “We knew what we had to do, and we managed to put a good couple of laps together,” he said. “I’m excited to run the race.#david_malukas #team_penske #phoenix_raceway #good_ranchers_250 #josef_newgarden
