Tyler Reddick secured an electrifying 23XI Racing Daytona 500 victory at Daytona International Speedway, shocking the field by winning NASCAR’s crown jewel in a dazzling final-lap surge. This accomplishment marked not only Reddick’s first triumph in the “Great American Race,” but also delivered co-owner Michael Jordan and his emerging 23XI Racing team their inaugural Daytona 500 win.
Final-Lap Pass Caps Unpredictable Finish
The 2026 edition of the Daytona 500 descended into chaos on its last lap, delivering the kind of drama fans expect from the sport’s premier event. As Carson Hocevar led the field under the white flag, contact in the tightly-packed group sparked a crash that sent the leader into the outer wall. Suddenly, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chase Elliott seemed poised for victory, but Reddick, who had started the lap in fourth, seized the moment as carnage broke out ahead.
With teammate Riley Herbst lending vital drafting assistance, Reddick surged past Elliott heading into the final turns. While Elliott was left vulnerable and subsequently involved in another collision when Herbst was turned into the wall, Reddick powered ahead across the finish line. Remarkably, he led only the single, crucial final lap of the 200-lap race, continuing a recent trend where Daytona victors prevail without dominating the lap count. In the last six Daytona 500s, only Austin Cindric in 2022 led more than 21 laps; this year, Reddick’s lone lap at the front delivered NASCAR’s ultimate prize.
After taking the checkered flag, Reddick reflected emotionally on his achievement.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever win this race, it’s surreal, honestly,”
Reddick, driver, shared, underscoring the magnitude of his landmark victory.
Michael Jordan Celebrates Landmark Achievement
This Daytona 500 victory represented a watershed moment for Michael Jordan, who, since joining forces with Denny Hamlin to form 23XI Racing in 2021, has steadily built a competitive NASCAR operation. The team launched with Bubba Wallace piloting the No. 23 before expanding to field Tyler Reddick and Riley Herbst in subsequent seasons. The reward for this expansion was on full display when Jordan celebrated with his team on racing’s biggest stage.
“I’m ecstatic, I don’t even know what to say,”
Michael Jordan, co-owner, said with visible excitement after the race.
“It feels like I won a championship but until I get a ring I won’t even know.”
His team’s success also came as Jordan neared his 63rd birthday, lending extra significance to the accomplishment both for his NASCAR aspirations and personal milestones. In a vivid sign of unity after recent legal tensions, NASCAR chairman Jim France joined Jordan and the 23XI squad in Victory Lane, putting behind them a period of contentious negotiations over franchising and team stability. Just weeks earlier, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports achieved a breakthrough legal settlement with NASCAR, gaining permanent charters and financial compensation for their future, further strengthening Jordan’s presence in the sport.
“Michael Jordan celebrating with his team 23XI racing after winning the Daytona 500 🏆#Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/106cwme86t”— FanDuel
Crash-Filled Contest Rewards Resilience
Survival—not just speed—emerged as the deciding factor at the 2026 Daytona 500. Early mayhem began with a sizeable wreck in the second stage, when a mistimed block by Justin Allgaier caused a 20-car pile-up. Earlier, a separate accident on the tri-oval eliminated multiple contenders, setting the stage for an attritional race to the finish.
William Byron, who arrived seeking a historic third consecutive Daytona 500 win, found his bid derailed early. A parts failure on BJ McLeod’s car initiated a crash that involved Byron, curtailing his bid despite a late-race resurgence. As the closing stage unfolded without caution, Christopher Bell’s late incident set up a dramatic four-lap sprint to the end. Michael McDowell took command through bold pit strategy, but he too was felled by the last-lap collision that reshuffled the outcome.
Amidst the chaos, Reddick, who started deep in the field from 26th, avoided disaster when it mattered. By reading the track and the chaos, he seized the lone opportunity on the final circuit, cementing his reputation as a skilled survivor as much as a fast driver. The victory not only signaled advancement for Reddick as a competitive force in NASCAR, but also underlined the prowess of 23XI Racing’s expansion and team-building efforts.
Implications for NASCAR and 23XI Racing
Reddick’s win at the Daytona 500 sets a substantial precedent for 23XI Racing’s progress within NASCAR since its founding. For Michael Jordan, the victory is a monumental achievement on a weekend that connects both sporting and personal legacies, reinforcing his team’s stature. With the legal settlement over permanent charters recently won, the path forward for 23XI, its drivers, and leaders like Denny Hamlin and Riley Herbst looks more secure than ever.
This result will be remembered as a defining chapter in both the Daytona 500’s storied history and Michael Jordan’s ambitious journey within motorsports. The effects are likely to ripple, ensuring that the triumph at Daytona International Speedway represents not just a single win, but a signpost for the sport’s evolving landscape and for what 23XI Racing hopes to build in the years ahead.
Michael Jordan celebrating with his team 23XI racing after winning the Daytona 500 🏆#Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/106cwme86t
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 15, 2026
