Michael Jordan Wins Daytona 500 with Tyler Reddick in NASCAR Upset

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Michael Jordan, six-time NBA champion, added another victory to his legacy on Sunday: the Daytona 500. Tyler Reddick secured “The Great American Race” with a last-lap pass at Daytona International Speedway, triggering a jubilant celebration with Jordan, who co-owns the 23XI Racing team. The NBA Hall of Famer embraced Reddick in victory lane and jointly hoisted the Harley J. Earl trophy. As reported by the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Jordan, who will turn 63 on Tuesday, joked he’d need a size 13 ring to commemorate the win. The victory resonated with a message team co-owner Denny Hamlin delivered to 23XI employees before the race. “He loves his race team,” Hamlin said, recalling a conversation about the joy Jordan experienced when Reddick won at Talladega in 2024. “I was like ‘You know, you guys understand the responsibilities you have, that you have the power to bring joy to Michael Jordan. You have that power and nobody else can do it.’” Hamlin added that the team understood the unique opportunity they had to bring joy to Jordan. Reddick, driving a Toyota, led only the final lap of the race, becoming the 25th different driver to lead a lap, a new Daytona 500 record. ESPN reported that Reddick described the race as “true Daytona madness” and admitted he had “lost my voice from screaming.” The win marked Reddick’s ninth career Cup Series victory and his first since late in the 2024 season. He finished runner-up in the 2025 Daytona 500. The triumph came after a challenging 2025 season for Reddick, during which he focused on his infant son’s health after the child was diagnosed with a tumor affecting his heart. The victory also provided a moment of celebration for Bubba Wallace, Reddick’s teammate, who finished 10th after leading a race-high 40 laps. Jordan embraced Wallace in victory lane, offering words of encouragement. “I don’t want my emotions to take away from the monumental day they just accomplished. Happy birthday, MJ. That’s a massive birthday present,” Wallace said. The win was particularly notable given Jordan’s recent legal battle with NASCAR. Just months prior, Jordan, as a plaintiff, and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France were adversaries in federal court over an antitrust lawsuit. The New York Times reported that the two shook hands in victory lane on Sunday. France personally congratulated Reddick and Jordan after the race. “I can’t even believe it. It was so gratifying,” Jordan said. “You never know how these races are going to end. You just endeavor to survive.” The Daytona 500 marked a weekend sweep for team owners involved in the lawsuit. Bob Jenkins, who joined 23XI in the suit, saw Chandler Smith win the Truck Series opener on Friday. Richard Childress, who testified on behalf of 23XI and Front Row Motorsports and was the subject of disparaging text messages from the former NASCAR chairman, Steve Phelps, secured a win Saturday with Austin Hill. Hamlin, reflecting on the weekend, shrugged off the coincidence, stating, “All we do is win.” The race concluded with a chaotic final lap, with multiple crashes. Elliott grabbed the lead at the start of the final lap, but Reddick, with assistance from teammate Riley Herbst, made contact with Elliott, causing a crash, and ultimately secured the victory. Former race winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. And Joey Logano finished second and third, respectively. Elliott, visibly frustrated after the race, questioned his strategy, stating, “We ended up kind of getting gifted the lead … And then at that point in time, you’re just on defense.”