Stephen A. Smith Says He Argued With Michael Jordan Over NASCAR Athlete Claim

Overview

• Stephen A. Smith, on his SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show, said golfers and NASCAR drivers are not athletes and added that NASCAR drivers “don’t count.”
• The claim drew sharp responses from inside NASCAR, including announcer Mike Joy, drivers Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick, and the Front Row Motorsports team.
• Harvick countered with in-car fitness tracking data that showed sustained effort, which supporters cite as proof of the sport’s physical demands.
• Smith later said Michael Jordan called to challenge him, and he said he argued with Jordan and still stands by his view while labeling the media pushback a “gang mentality.”
• Jordan co-owns 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin, and the team’s success, including Tyler Reddick’s Daytona 500 win, gives his challenge added weight across racing and basketball circles.