- Stephen A. Smith’s remarks on NASCAR drivers didn’t sit well with Michael Jordan.
- Smith admitted that Michael Jordan tried to correct him.
- He plans to stand by his opinion alone, even if it draws backlash.
Stephen A. Smith’s claim that NASCAR drivers are not athletes has led to a storm, drawing fire from drivers, fans, and now even NBA icon Michael Jordan. The remark did not stay on air; it spilled into a clash of views, with Smith revealing that he and Jordan locked horns over the issue.
Jordan, who co-owns 23XI Racing, has shown his stake in the sport. Across the five race wins secured by Tyler Reddick this season, Jordan has been present at the track each time. Last year, he stood up to NASCAR’s system in a fight over team interests, and since then, his team has been stacking wins. Against that backdrop, any swipe at NASCAR drivers was never likely to pass without a response.
Stephen A. Smith says Michael Jordan tried to correct him
The spark came last week when Smith took aim at both golfers and NASCAR drivers during an episode of his “Mad Dog Sports Radio” show on SiriusXM, commenting that they do not qualify as athletes. The take followed a caller’s comparison between Richard Petty’s longevity and LeBron James’ NBA career. Smith dismissed the comparison, saying NASCAR drivers “don’t count.”
The comment lit a fuse. Over the course of the week, listeners called in to defend both groups. The pushback spread across the NASCAR topography, with broadcaster Mike Joy, driver-turned-analyst Kevin Harvick, Front Row Motorsports drivers Ryan Preece, and three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano weighing in. Then came word that Jordan himself had reached out.
Speaking on his Thursday afternoon show, Smith said, “You know who wanted to correct me about the NASCAR thing? Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan. I argued with him! Because that’s how I feel! I’m being honest. That’s how I feel. That’s all, it’s not a crime. That’s what makes radio and sports talk.”
Smith would not dispute Jordan’s standing as an athlete, given his former NBA background, nor his grasp of NASCAR through his team. Yet, even after admitting he does not know enough about the sport to fully grasp the demands of a full-time driver, Smith has not budged from his stance despite the chorus of rebuttals.
On the contrary, he phrased the debate as a question of groupthink. In his view, people in the media tend to fall in line with prevailing opinion, choosing safety over risk. That, he argued, is the path of least resistance.
Instead, Smith threw himself into the role of the outlier, someone willing to stand apart and voice his beliefs, even at the cost of backlash. In his telling, that is the tougher road, the one tied to honesty. Whether that reads as conviction or stubbornness depends on where one stands, but Smith appears content to keep pressing his point, unmoved by the noise around him.
