“I don’t care” NASCAR management takes stern action against 23XI Racing driver after Shane van Gisbergen’s win at the Charlotte ROVAL caused Michael Jordan to utter 9 words that shocked NASCAR fans

In the high-stakes world of NASCAR, where every lap can rewrite legacies, the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL delivered a weekend of triumph, turmoil, and unprecedented drama on October 5, 2025. Shane van Gisbergen, the Kiwi road-course wizard driving for Trackhouse Racing, stormed to his fifth consecutive road-course victory in the Bank of America ROVAL 400, leaving a trail of playoff chaos in his wake. But while van Gisbergen hoisted the trophy with a commanding 15.160-second margin over Kyle Larson, the real shockwaves rippled through the garage when Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, dropped a bombshell nine-word statement: “I don’t care about the playoffs; we need wins now.” Those words, uttered in a raw post-race interview, ignited fury among fans and prompted NASCAR officials to unleash stern penalties against one of Jordan’s drivers, Riley Herbst, in a move that’s left the sport buzzing.

Van Gisbergen’s dominance was nothing short of surgical. Starting from the front row, the No. 88 Chevrolet led 57 of the 109 laps on the twisting 2.28-mile layout, fending off aggressive challenges from Larson and Christopher Bell. The New Zealander, a rookie sensation in the Cup Series after his Supercars exploits, has now tied a NASCAR record with five straight road wins, trailing only Jeff Gordon’s legendary six-straight streak from the late 1990s. “This place is tricky, but we had the pace today,” van Gisbergen said, grinning as he recounted swapping positions with Larson amid heavy contact on Lap 98. His victory, however, came as an afterthought for the playoff contenders battling for survival in the Round of 12 elimination race.

Behind him, the ROVAL turned into a gladiatorial arena. Joey Logano clawed his way into the Round of 8 on the final lap, edging Ross Chastain by mere points in a heart-stopping finish that saw Chastain’s Trackhouse teammate van Gisbergen unknowingly play spoiler. Eliminated alongside Chastain were Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric, their seasons crumbling in a frenzy of strategy gambles and on-track skirmishes. Fans erupted online, with hashtags like #ROVALChaos trending as clips of Logano’s last-gasp push went viral. Yet, amid the playoff heartbreak, it was the fallout at 23XI Racing that stole the spotlight.

Riley Herbst, the 22-year-old phenom piloting the No. 35 Toyota for Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s outfit, crossed the line in 30th place—a middling result for a team desperate to build momentum. But post-race inspection revealed a nightmare: the car failed to meet the minimum weight requirement, a violation that NASCAR inspectors flagged immediately. Hours later, officials announced Herbst’s disqualification, dropping him to 37th in the final results and handing 23XI a 25-driver-point penalty, a $25,000 fine to crew chief Trevor Pittman, and indefinite suspensions for three crew members. It’s a crushing blow for Herbst, whose rookie campaign has been a grind with no top-10s and an average finish of 26.3, including a best of 14th at Texas earlier this year.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for 23XI, already mired in a bitter antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR over the charter system. The team, alongside Front Row Motorsports, is fighting for permanent charters and accusing the sanctioning body of monopolistic practices that stifle competition. Just days before the ROVAL, NASCAR filed for summary judgment, labeling 23XI’s grievances as stemming from a “bruised ego” and “greed,” while securing declarations from 13 other Cup owners in support of the current agreements. Hamlin, ever the vocal co-owner, has been at the forefront, but the DQ felt like a direct shot across the bow.

Enter Michael Jordan. The six-time NBA champion, whose entry into NASCAR ownership in 2021 brought star power and diversity to the garage, watched from the pits as Herbst’s car was impounded for further review. In a sideline scrum with reporters, Jordan’s frustration boiled over. Flanked by Hamlin, the Hall of Famer shrugged off questions about the playoffs—where 23XI’s Bubba Wallace was eliminated 24 points back—and zeroed in on the bigger picture. “I don’t care about the playoffs; we need wins now,” he said, his voice steady but laced with the intensity that defined his Chicago Bulls dynasty. The nine words hung in the air like exhaust fumes, a defiant dismissal of the format that’s long divided fans. Social media exploded: “MJ just torched the playoffs!” one tweet read, amassing thousands of likes. Another fan quipped, “Jordan dropping truth bombs harder than he dropped threes.”

NASCAR’s response was swift and unyielding. Sources close to the sanctioning body indicate the DQ wasn’t isolated; inspectors had been scrutinizing 23XI’s operations amid the lawsuit’s escalating rhetoric. “This isn’t about the litigation,” an anonymous official told reporters off the record. “It’s about integrity. Weight violations compromise safety and fairness.” But whispers in the garage suggest otherwise. Hamlin, speaking post-race, called it “a tough pill,” hinting at appeals while praising Herbst’s resilience. “We’re building something here, and one bad day doesn’t define us,” Hamlin said. Jordan, true to form, has remained stoic publicly, but insiders say he’s livid, viewing the penalty as retaliation for the team’s refusal to sign the 2025-2031 charter extensions.

The incident has reignited debates about NASCAR’s playoff structure, which van Gisbergen’s win inadvertently highlighted. Critics argue the format prioritizes spectacle over consistency, allowing non-contenders like SVG to steal the show while title hopefuls crash out. Van Gisbergen himself laughed it off: “I’m just happy to win. The playoffs? That’s their circus.” Yet, Jordan’s outburst cuts deeper, echoing sentiments from veterans like Kevin Harvick, who recently predicted more upheaval if the system doesn’t evolve.

For 23XI, the road ahead is treacherous. With Wallace out of the playoffs and Herbst’s DQ staining the record, the team faces a pivotal offseason. The lawsuit heads to a December trial, where a win could reshape NASCAR’s economic landscape. Jordan, ever the competitor, isn’t backing down. His words at Charlotte weren’t just frustration—they were a battle cry. As the series barrels toward the Round of 8 at Las Vegas, one thing’s clear: in a sport fueled by rivalries, MJ has just raised the stakes. Will NASCAR bend, or will it break the team that dared to challenge it? Fans, divided as ever, can’t look away.