DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tyler Reddick, driving the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, won the 2026 Daytona 500 on Sunday, securing the first victory in the “Great American Race” for the team co-owned by Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk. The win came after a chaotic final lap, marked by multiple crashes, and a decision by NASCAR officials to keep the race under green until its completion.
The victory is particularly significant for Jordan, who, according to The Athletic, described the feeling as “like winning a championship.” It arrives months after 23XI Racing was involved in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, with Jordan and NASCAR CEO Jim France briefly positioned as adversaries. The two were seen shaking hands in Victory Lane following the race.
23XI Racing, established in 2021, fields three full-time Cup Series drivers: Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Riley Herbst. The team’s inception marked a significant moment for diversity in the sport, with Wallace becoming the only Black driver in the field and racing the No. 23 car, a nod to Jordan’s iconic number. Reddick races with No. 45, referencing Jordan’s number upon his return to the NBA, while Herbst drives the No. 35, a tribute to Jordan’s minor league career.
Reddick’s win follows a challenging 2025 season where he failed to secure a victory. The Daytona 500 triumph represents a resurgence for the California native, widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s most talented drivers. The race’s dramatic conclusion saw several contenders involved in late-stage crashes, with the second- and third-place finishers requiring medical attention, though no drivers sustained injuries.
The race was heavily influenced by a late-stage incident involving Justin Allgaier, which triggered a 17-car crash and eliminated several potential winners. NASCAR’s decision to allow the race to finish under green, despite the ensuing chaos, proved controversial but ultimately led to Reddick’s victory.
Michael Jordan co-owns 23XI Racing alongside Hamlin and Polk, and the team has quickly established itself as a competitive force within the Cup Series. Wallace and Reddick have combined for nine wins since the team’s formation, demonstrating its growing prominence in the sport.
The win at Daytona marks a turning point for 23XI Racing, solidifying its position as a contender for Cup Series championships in the years to approach. The team’s success is a testament to the vision of its owners and the talent of its drivers.
