23XI Racing secured its first Daytona 500 victory on Sunday evening as Tyler Reddick surged to the front to lead only the final lap of the 68th running of The Great American Race. The team, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, achieved this milestone at Daytona in its sixth season, marking a pivotal moment for all involved at 23XI Racing Daytona 500 victory.
Offseason Struggles Lead to Uncertainty
Leading into the 2024 season, 23XI Racing faced considerable uncertainty. Owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, joined by Front Row Motorsports, spent two weeks in a court dispute with NASCAR. The resolution established evergreen charters, a significant turning point for the team and the sport. Choosing not to sign the initial 2024 charter agreement, 23XI Racing competed as open teams for a time, while working to reassure both investors and drivers during this challenging period.
Reddick’s Redemption After a Difficult Season
Reddick’s journey to this triumph had not been easy. In the prior season, he failed to secure a race win and was eliminated in the round of 12 during the playoffs, after having earned a spot in the Championship Four the year before. The end of last season brought personal hardships as well, as Reddick’s youngest son, Rookie, required the removal of a kidney at just four months old, casting a shadow over the family.
The Final Laps: Teammates and Close Calls
At last year’s Daytona 500, Reddick closely trailed William Byron during a chaotic finish, moving up to second as Byron surged from seventh in the last-lap scramble. Without support from the rest of the pack, Reddick’s attempt to overtake Byron at the finish fell short. One year later, teamwork enabled Reddick to seize his opportunity—this time with Riley Herbst’s crucial support.
Herbst, still seeking his first Cup win, pushed Reddick into position to battle Hendrick driver Chase Elliott. As Reddick made his move underneath, Herbst shifted behind Elliott and then moved to the outside, preventing Brad Keselowski in his chase. Herbst’s defense disrupted Elliott, causing the former champion to spin and leading to Elliott’s second near-miss at Daytona. Reddick’s ability to capitalize on this late-race teamwork was the difference-maker.
Owner Michael Jordan Praises Team and Herbst’s Role
Following the victory, Michael Jordan recognized the important efforts by all four 23XI drivers, especially Herbst, acknowledging that Herbst’s vital role might not receive the recognition it deserves.
“We had four guys that were really fighting that were helping each other else and you never know how these races are going to end,”
Michael Jordan, Team Owner
“You just try to survive. I thought Riley did an unbelievable job by pushing at the end. He doesn’t get enough credit, and he won’t get enough credit, but we feel the love. We understand exactly what he did. We just hung in there all day, great strategy by the team, and we gave ourselves a chance at the end. Look, I’m ecstatic, I don’t know what to say, it feels like I won a championship, but until I get my ring, I won’t even know.”
Michael Jordan, Team Owner
Bubba Wallace Shows Gratitude After Strong Stage
Earlier in the race, Bubba Wallace looked poised for a major finish, surviving a multi-car crash in stage two and taking the stage win. Wallace led more laps than any other driver, though a late-race incident kept him from contending for the overall victory. This marks yet another close call for Wallace at Daytona, where he has finished as runner-up both as a rookie with Richard Petty Motorsports in 2018 and again in 2022.
“I don’t know what to say, first of all, hats off to the No. 45 crew,”
Bubba Wallace, Driver
“I don’t want my emotions to take away from their win.”
Bubba Wallace, Driver
Wallace also took note that Reddick’s primary sponsor was Chumba Casino, the same sponsor who supported him when he claimed his inaugural Brickyard 400 triumph earlier in the summer, highlighting another notable victory for the team’s partner.
Youth Movement: Corey Heim’s Cup Series Challenge
For 23XI Racing, 2024 also brings expansion, with the team entering a fourth car, the No. 67, for 12 races with Corey Heim. As a reigning NASCAR Truck Series champion, Heim began his run of Cup starts with a leading role in the late stages before triggering the final caution after a collision with team owner Denny Hamlin, leaving nine laps remaining in the race.
Strong Team Finish and Hamlin’s Dual Legacy
All three of 23XI Racing’s full-time drivers secured top-ten results at Daytona: Herbst finishing eighth, Wallace in tenth, and Reddick earning the win. Team co-owner Denny Hamlin, also a competitor through Joe Gibbs Racing, faced a difficult day on the track. Hamlin was involved in three major incidents, including a collision with Heim. Despite the difficulties, Hamlin now becomes a Daytona 500 victor both as a driver—having won in 2016, 2021, and 2022—and as a team owner.
Hamlin’s milestone comes after an emotional offseason. Last year, he lost his chance at a championship in Phoenix’s closing laps. The offseason tragedy of losing his father to a housefire—after battling illness but surviving to see the court settlement bring a new era for 23XI Racing—underscored the personal challenges faced by the team.
Significance for 23XI Racing and NASCAR
The 23XI Racing Daytona 500 victory represents a defining achievement in the organization’s brief history. Having navigated legal disputes, personal adversity, and on-track challenges, the team now stands as a championship contender and a model of resilience. With Jordan, Hamlin, Reddick, Wallace, Herbst, and emerging talent like Heim all contributing to its ongoing narrative, 23XI Racing has demonstrated that perseverance and partnership can deliver unforgettable results in NASCAR’s premier events.
Tyler was not going to lift. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/9mzLnYmn3Y
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 15, 2026
