It turns out Michael Jordan has room for one more ring on his fingers, size 13, to be exact. In a finish that can only be described as Daytona Madness, Tyler Reddick piloted the No. 45 Toyota Camry to victory in the 68th running of the Daytona 500, delivering the first-ever Great American Race championship to 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by the NBA legend and Denny Hamlin.
For 199 laps, it looked like it might be anyone’s race. But Reddick led only one lap all day: the final one. The 30-year-old driver capitalized on a chaotic finish, surging from fourth place on the final lap. With a massive assist from teammate Riley Herbst, Reddick bypassed a wreck involving Chase Elliott and Carson Hocevar to cross the finish line just 0.308 seconds ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
“I’ve already lost my voice from screaming,” Reddick said after the race. “Just incredible how it all played out… I didn’t know if I’d ever win this race.”
While Reddick was doing the driving, all eyes were on Michael Jordan in the pits. Known for his steely competitive nature, the six-time NBA champion bear-hugged Reddick in Victory Lane and hoisted the Harley J. Earl trophy with a grin that rivaled his 1990s glory days.
Jordan, who turns 63 this week, didn’t mince words about what the victory meant to him.
“It feels like I won a championship,” Jordan told reporters, his excitement palpable. “But until I get my ring, I won’t even know.”
The win is particularly sweet for Jordan, who has spent the last few years fighting battles off the track as the face of a high-profile antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR regarding revenue sharing. To beat the establishment on their biggest stage, in a race created by the very family he challenged in court, adds a layer of narrative depth that even Hollywood couldn’t script.
The victory wasn’t just about Reddick and Jordan. It validated the vision of co-owner Denny Hamlin, who famously told his team before the season opener that they had “the power to bring joy” to Jordan. It was also a banner day for the entire 23XI garage, with teammate Bubba Wallace finishing 10th and Riley Herbst playing the role of the ultimate wingman to secure the win.
“I thought Riley did an unbelievable job pushing at the end,” Jordan noted, proving he’s just as sharp an evaluator of racing talent as he was of shooting guards. “That shows you what teamwork can really, really do.”
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
