Tyler Reddick Wins Daytona 500 in Historic Triumph for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing

Tyler Reddick's Daytona 500 triumph delivered a defining moment for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing, as the NASCAR star claimed victory in the sport's biggest race in dramatic fashion.

The Daytona 500 win, secured on the final lap at Daytona International Speedway, marked the first triumph in the 'Great American Race' for both Reddick and the Jordan-co-owned team.

The 2026 Daytona 500 unfolded with chaos, late-race crashes and a last-lap pass that reshaped the outcome. Reddick, who began the final lap in fourth position, surged through the turmoil to seize the lead just before the finish, turning a tense finale into a historic result.

'I didn't know if I'd ever win this race, it's surreal, honestly,' Reddick said after taking the chequered flag. The victory also carried symbolic weight for Jordan, coming just two days before the basketball icon's 63rd birthday and representing a milestone for his growing NASCAR project.

Last-lap Drama Seals Historic Victory

The Daytona 500's decisive moment came exiting Turn 4 on the final lap. Carson Hocevar led the field as the white flag flew, but contact in the pack triggered a crash that sent the leader into the outside wall. That incident opened the door for a furious scramble behind.

Reddick, running fourth, avoided the wreck and quickly positioned himself behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chase Elliott on the backstretch. With help from teammate Riley Herbst, Reddick built momentum and surged past Elliott entering the final corners.

Elliott, left without drafting support, was caught in another incident as Riley Herbst was turned into the wall behind him. Reddick, meanwhile, powered clear to the finish line, leading only the final lap of the 200-lap race.

The victory continued a recent trend at Daytona, where winners have not needed to dominate the race. Over the past six editions, only Austin Cindric's 21 laps led in 2022 stand as the highest total among winners. Reddick's one-lap tally was enough to secure the sport's most prestigious prize.

Jordan's NASCAR Project Reaches New Milestone

For Michael Jordan, the result marked a landmark achievement since entering NASCAR ownership in 2021 alongside Denny Hamlin. Their team, 23XI Racing, initially fielded Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 car before expanding to a multi-car operation with Reddick and Herbst.

'I'm ecstatic, I don't even know what to say,' Jordan said after the race. 'It feels like I won a championship but until I get a ring I won't even know.'

The triumph arrived just weeks after 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports secured a major legal settlement with NASCAR. The teams had challenged the sanctioning body's charter system, seeking permanent franchises. The eventual settlement granted permanent charters and financial compensation, marking a significant victory for the plaintiffs.

NASCAR chairman Jim France joined Jordan in Victory Lane after the race, symbolising a united front following the legal dispute.

A Race Defined By Crashes And Survival

Sunday's race featured multiple incidents before the final-lap chaos. The second stage produced a 20-car pile-up triggered by a misjudged block from Justin Allgaier, while an earlier tri-oval crash also collected several drivers.

Defending winner William Byron, who had entered the race seeking an unprecedented third consecutive Daytona 500 victory, was caught in an early wreck caused by a parts failure on BJ McLeod's car. Though Byron recovered to contend late, the final-lap crash ended his chances.

The closing stage ran caution-free until a late incident involving Christopher Bell, setting up a four-lap green-flag sprint to the finish. Michael McDowell briefly inherited the lead through pit-strategy, but he too was collected in the decisive crash involving Hocevar.

In the end, survival proved as important as speed. Starting 26th on the grid, Reddick navigated the wrecks and positioned himself perfectly for the final-lap opportunity.

The result delivered a historic Daytona 500 crown for both driver and team, and a major milestone for Jordan's growing presence in NASCAR.