Michael Jordan’s Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway wasn’t the kind of day most owners would stick around for. But that’s not how Jordan operates, even amid a fiery antitrust court battle against NASCAR over charters.
The six-time NBA champion and co-owner of 23XI Racing never left Tyler Reddick’s pit box during the Bank of America ROVAL 400, even as both of his drivers — Reddick and Bubba Wallace, who clashed with 23XI co-founder Denny Hamlin at Kansas — saw their playoff hopes end in disappointing fashion.
The scene around Jordan told the story. While his two Toyotas battled mechanical issues, poor timing, and brutal luck, the basketball legend stood grounded, eyes fixed on the monitors, his focus unshaken.
It was a tough afternoon for the entire 23XI Racing operation. Reddick, who started the day on pole and looked poised to contend early, could never quite find the rhythm that carried him into the Round of 12, and finished 10th.
After his elimination, he said “I just really appreciate the racing community. Countless people have reached out and helped along the way. In hindsight, maybe we could chase points harder … Just lost some spots in key moments today.”