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Call Jamie Little the Michael Jordan whisperer. The Fox Sports veteran has become MJ’s favorite motorsports reporter.
In recent weeks, NASCAR viewers have become accustomed to seeing Little interview the co-team owner of 23XI. Fox’s pit reporter has gotten so much access to the hoops legend that multiple outlets have noted she’s interviewed His Airness more about racing than Mike Tirico has about basketball this season, despite the five-time MVP’s role as a “special contributor” to NBC’s NBA coverage.
During his legendary playing career, Jordan liked to pick out one team reporter as his go-to. He appears to be doing the same thing with Little.
This kind of access doesn’t happen overnight. It goes back to June 2021 at Sonoma Raceway, when Little overheard Jordan mention her name as a reporter who “knows everything about NASCAR.” It was an opening too good to pass up. Little introduced herself and shook the living legend’s hand. Next thing you know, they were chitchatting about racing.
Fast-forward to 2026, and Little has done more than half a dozen TV interviews with the elusive Jordan. Plus, the 63-year-old specifically asks Fox producers for Little to conduct his interviews. With his star driver, Tyler Reddick, ripping off his own three-peat to open NASCAR’s new season, MJ looks happier than he has in years.
Front Office Sports recently caught up with Little to discuss her experience interviewing Jordan and his growing impact in motorsports.
Front Office Sports: At the Daytona 500, you asked MJ about watching NASCAR with his family while growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina. Do people know the greatest basketball player of all time grew up a race fan in the heart of NASCAR country?
Jamie Little: He is genuinely so happy. The thing I try to convey to the fans when I talk to him: This didn’t just start. This isn’t just a business decision. Growing up in North Carolina, his parents would put him in the car. They would drive to racetracks and watch races when he was a kid. NASCAR has been ingrained in him forever. Now that he’s at the level where he’s a team owner, and not just an owner but a winning owner, it’s incredible. It’s one of those stories you can’t script. He’s reaping the fruits of his labor.
FOS: When I watch your interviews, he looks so happy. Are these victories reigniting his competitive fire? Or does he just love the sport?
JL: A little bit of everything. Each time I’ve talked to him, he’s always talked about how it reminds him of the mindset of when he played. The happy times, the winning times, the competitive times. This brings it out in him. Now that he’s won three weeks in a row, I steer clear of mentioning basketball. Because we’re in NASCAR. This is something totally different. When he feels like it, he compares it to those feelings. Which I think is really neat.
FOS: MJ’s father, James Jordan, meant a lot to him. He was deeply impacted by his dad’s murder in 1993. Do you think NASCAR helps him connect with his late dad?
JL: I don’t know about the history with his father other than I heard him tell me about growing up watching the sport—and it was a family affair. He told me he watches every race. Whether it’s the Truck Series race. The Saturday race, which is like your Division I, Division II. Then you’ve got the big leagues on Sunday. He doesn’t miss a race. He tells me when he’s in Europe or he’s on vacation, he makes sure he finds a TV so he can be glued to what’s happening in NASCAR. It is a genuine love and passion for him. When he’s competing like this, and his team is winning, I think it brings him back to those moments that everybody’s talking about in the Bulls days. And the comparison to winning three straight. It’s just genuine happiness for the group they’ve assembled. And everything they’ve put in to get here.
FOS: What do you think about people saying you get more TV time with Jordan time than NBC?
JL: I know, I’ve heard that before. The cool thing is he loves NASCAR so much. … It’s so organic. He just wants to talk about NASCAR, which is so cool.
FOS: Still, he’s pretty reclusive. Take us through how you get access.
JL: It’s funny. I don’t know that about him. Since these last few weeks have been happening, and I interview him all the time, multiple people have come up to me and said he was very tough during his playing days. He takes a reporter, he trusts them, that’s who he gives information to, that’s who he gives access to. I’m very humbled and honored I’ve become that person.
FOS: You say things really took off two years ago at Talladega?
JL: Yes. So two years ago, nobody was able to get interviews with him on the broadcast. Tyler Reddick had won at Talladega. I knew MJ was there. He went into Victory Lane. I said, “I’m going to go for it.” That’s just kind of my personality. I always ask. The worst they can do is say no. So I went up to him. He gives me a big hug. I’m like, “I think I’m in.” So I said, “Do you mind if I ask you a question on camera?” He’s like, “Sure.” So we got the first interview. I know it was a very big deal in the sport. Last year, same thing. He’s sitting in the pit box, pre-race. We’re shooting the breeze for 10 minutes about things and NASCAR. I said, “Hey, can we chat on camera?” He’s like, “Sure.” He comes off the pit box. We do a great interview.
Fast-forward to this year at the Daytona 500. The night before the race, I got a call from my producer, Max. He says, “I’m going to add something to your list. And give you a compliment.” He said, “I’m going to have you interview MJ. They have requested you’re the one who does it.” I said, “Oh, that’s a great honor.” So that’s kind of how this whole streak began. Now I make eye contact with him. He gives me a nod. Puts his arm around me. I always ask first, “Are you O.K. with me asking you a question?” I know he’ll say no if he doesn’t feel the vibe. But heck, he’s winning. So it’s the perfect time. Yesterday, they made history at NASCAR. I said, “I’ll walk with you; your whole team is celebrating.” He said, “Perfect”—after he noticed I was wearing Jordan shoes. It’s hilarious. He notices what shoes everybody is wearing. We had a great interview. He’s just so naturally happy. It’s just organic. So it’s been great.
FOS: Can a celebrity owner like Jordan have an impact on NASCAR?
JL: Absolutely, it doesn’t hurt. This morning, I’m looking at X and my feed is full of these accounts that I don’t follow. Mainstream media, other sports outlets that I don’t follow that are typically stick and balls, and they all have Jordan headlines. And they have my interview connected to it. And I thought: That’s his impact. He is reaching way beyond the walls of motorsports reporting. He’s going mainstream. The people that love Jordan follow him. Whether they love his shoes, they love his playing, they love him. They’re like, “Whoa, he’s involved in NASCAR? And they’re doing something that’s never been done before? Let’s follow along.” I think it’s great for our sport.
