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Tyler Reddick and Michael Jordan celebrate winning the 2026 Daytona 500.
Since NASCAR’s inception in 1949, no one had won the first three races to start a season. That was until 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick made history to start the 2026 Cup Series campaign.
Reddick won the season opening Daytona 500 in dramatic fashion, making a criss-cross move around both Zane Smith and Chase Elliott in the last quarter-lap at Daytona International Speedway. But this was more than just a victory, as he led Michael Jordan to the winner’s circle in the Great American Race, a scene that was seen across the globe.
Reddick, 30, is now off to by far the best star of his young NASCAR career. He left Daytona with plenty of momentum, and he dominated the second race of the year at EchoPark Speedway. When the series arrived at Circuit of the Americas, where he won in 2023, expectations were still high. He held off the pre-race favorite Shane van Gisbergen, who won five road course races in 2025, and did so in dominating fashion by leading 58 of 95 laps en route to his historic victory.
“I expected our year to start better than we ended 2025, but it is really perfect because it truly has been a perfect start,” Reddick said. “Not just off the finishes, but the vibes, the way that we’ve been addressing and pushing things in the right direction, and I’m just extremely pleased with all of it. I never won back-to-back in NASCAR, and I obviously never won three in a row.”
After winning at Daytona, Reddick said his team could’ve laid back a bit and took a deep breath. But instead, the 23XI Racing folks have been determined as ever to get their boss into victory lane.
“Everyone has kept a good mindset,” Reddick said.
Now, former drivers like Kevin Harvick are predicting that Jordan and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin have created what is most certainly a “dangerous” team.
Tyler Reddick and Michael Jordan’s Special Bond
Before Reddick signed with 23XI Racing in an unprecedented deal originally inked in 2022 that would have had him start with the team in 2024—he moved to 23XI Racing in 2023 after Kurt Busch’s retirement—he wanted to understand who Jordan was as a man and a team owner.
“He’s someone who’s really locked in,” Reddick said. “Before I got started here, I got to learn how much racing means to Michael. For me, that’s important because it’s important to work with individuals who share the same passions, motivators and the same drive. He’s been able to be there in those moments, and he’s there at the moments when the fans or people who aren’t part of 23XI don’t see.
“He goes above and beyond in many ways to give us resources. There are so many ways that he offers himself up to this team. It really works well.”
Jordan, a NBA legend and champion, has the expectation of turning this team into one that is at the top. The challenge is to defeat the likes of Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing, the three powerhouses that dominate the sport.
Reddick, the team believes, could be the driver to knock out the Big Three.
“Our number goal is to win races,” Reddick said. “We understand it’s important to finish off the season itself. To have a really good shot at winning the Chase, it’s going to be important to be seeded high when that starts.”
Reddick’s Growth With 23XI Racing
Reddick signed with 23XI Racing after being a Chevrolet driver throughout his first few years in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series, mostly with Richard Childress Racing. After a solid first two seasons with RCR in the No. 8 car, he captured his first Cup win at Road America in 2022, just days before announcing his new contract.
A large part of Reddick’s success at 23XI Racing is due to his tight-knit relationship with crew chief Billy Scott, who was a journeyman crew chief of sorts until he was paired with Reddick. Scott only had the same driver in back-to-back seasons once (Danica Patrick in 2016 and 2017). He joined 23XI Racing to work with Busch, who he was quite successful with in 2018, winning at Bristol and finishing seventh in the championship.
“It’s awesome to be able to have these winning moments,” Reddick said. “What we’ve gone through to get to this point is why we’re celebrating these moments now. We’ve been able to get through the tough times and periods of adversity.”
Last year, Reddick went winless, while his 23XI teammate Bubba Wallace claimed a Crown Jewel victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Even with the winless campaign, he finished ninth in the standings. Now, with the hot start, Reddick has his eyes on claiming the regular season championship, which he won in 2024.
Despite Reddick’s decline in performance in 2025 and 23XI Racing’s lawsuit against NASCAR, which was settled over the offseason, his partnership value has increased.
“What’s so important is the authenticity of our relationships,” Reddick said. “It’s important that the fit is good. I’d have to imagine it’s been a whirlwind for Chumba Casino because they’ve had interest in motor sports for a while. They won Indy with Bubba and they have an expanded role on my racecar this year, so it’s pretty crazy.
“I’ve worked with Pinnacle for years, the longest-running partner that I’ve had and it’s transcended my time with 23XI, going back to my time with RCR. Last year, it was a huge deal for them to finally reach the point where they had some primaries.”
This year, Reddick and 23XI have not only expanded their relationship with Chumba Casino, but also with Xfinity. Also coming on board to serve as a primary sponsor for Reddick this year are SupplyHouse, Comparion Insurance Agency and Pala Casino, each of which are new NASCAR sponsors, a move that showcases Jordan’s starpower and 23XI’s unique position in the sport.
As the season rolls on, 23XI Racing expects to be in the championship conversation with both Reddick and Wallace.