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Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, watches during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, on Nov. 10, 2024.
FFor years, Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team was viewed as an ambitious experiment. Early in the 2026 season, it suddenly looks like a serious championship force.
Just a handful of races into the season, the influence of Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team is suddenly everywhere near the front of the NASCAR Cup Series.
Drivers connected to Jordan’s team ownership group have already stacked wins, surged to the top of the standings, and established themselves as central figures in the early championship conversation.
Tyler Reddick’s Fast Start Has Set the Tone
The most visible piece of the surge belongs to Tyler Reddick.
Driving the No. 45 Toyota for Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, Reddick has opened the season with a blistering run of form
Multiple victories early in the schedule have vaulted him to the top of the championship standings and positioned him as one of the drivers to beat as the season begins to take shape.
For a team that entered the sport only a few years ago, having a driver consistently running at the front — and collecting trophies — represents a major step forward.
Bubba Wallace Adds Depth to 23XI’s Early Success
Reddick has not been carrying the load alone.
Teammate Bubba Wallace has also opened the season with one of the strongest stretches of his Cup Series career.
Wallace has remained near the top of the standings through the opening races, giving Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team a major early-season boost.
For a relatively young organization, that level of consistency across both cars is a sign that the program’s competitive foundation is becoming stronger each season.
Denny Hamlin Keeps the Wins Coming
Jordan’s NASCAR footprint extends beyond the cars carrying the 23XI banner.
Co-owner Denny Hamlin — who helped launch the team alongside Jordan — continues to deliver results on the track as well.
Hamlin scored a victory this season in Las Vegas driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, further reinforcing the early-season momentum surrounding the ownership group.
While that win technically belongs to JGR, Hamlin’s dual role as both a championship-caliber driver and co-owner of 23XI keeps him tightly connected to the broader success story unfolding around Jordan’s NASCAR program.
A Young Team Suddenly Looks Like a Contender
When Jordan entered NASCAR as a team owner, the move immediately drew attention. A six-time NBA champion bringing his competitive instincts into stock car racing was always going to be a fascinating experiment.
But success in NASCAR rarely comes overnight. Building a program capable of winning consistently takes time, depth, and the right combination of drivers and technical partners.
Now, several seasons into the project, the results are beginning to reflect that long-term investment.
With Reddick winning the year’s first three races, Wallace consistently running near the front, and Hamlin continuing to perform at a high level, the influence of Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team is shaping the early portion of the 2026 Cup Series season in a very real way. If the opening races are any indication, the championship conversation may run straight through the organization Jordan helped build.
Maggie MacKenzie Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie
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