23XI Racing delivered a landmark performance in the 2026 Daytona 500, with all three of its drivers finishing in the top ten and Tyler Reddick clinching a thrilling win at Daytona International Speedway. The dramatic 23XI Racing Daytona 500 victory marked a pivotal moment for Toyota and team co-owner Michael Jordan, just days before his 63rd birthday.
23XI Racing Emerges as Toyota’s Lead Contender
Since 2008, Joe Gibbs Racing had served as Toyota’s top team in NASCAR. However, during Sunday’s season-opening race, it was 23XI Racing that carried the hopes of the manufacturer. In a standout performance, 23XI Racing became the only Toyota team to place all of its full-time drivers in the top ten: Tyler Reddick took first, Riley Herbst finished eighth, and Bubba Wallace came in tenth.
Reddick’s victory not only delivered 23XI Racing its first Daytona 500 win, but also marked Toyota’s fourth Cup Series triumph at the event and its 204th Cup victory overall. Notably, Reddick’s win came on the heels of Michael Jordan’s birthday, adding a personal milestone to the team’s historic achievement.
A Race Filled With Accidents and Resilience
The event tested the resilience of the 23XI Racing team. Early on, Tyler Reddick was caught in a six-car accident on lap five out of 200 but escaped major damage. The first half of the race was turbulent, filled with multiple incidents impacting favorites such as William Byron, who was seeking a record-setting third straight Daytona 500 win.
Despite starting the final ten laps in fifth place behind leaders Michael McDowell, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Josh Berry, Reddick maneuvered through drama-packed laps and multiple lead changes. Just eight laps from the end, a crash involving Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin reshuffled the order, with Reddick emerging second for a decisive restart.
Intense Final Laps Lead to Reddick’s Triumph
As the race reached its final moments, strategic moves came into play. William Byron, aiming for his third consecutive Daytona 500 win, played a key role by pushing Reddick to the lead. However, the lead traded hands as McDowell and his teammate Carson Hocevar took to the outside lane, pushing Reddick into the middle alongside Bubba Wallace.
Heading into the last lap, the front five drivers were Hocevar, McDowell, Erik Jones, Reddick, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. But a multi-car spin at the front opened the door for a dramatic showdown: Elliott on the outside, Stenhouse in the middle, and Reddick on the inside entered turn one side by side.
Zane Smith gave Chase Elliott a crucial push, but as they turned for the finish, Reddick capitalized on shifting positions. In the trioval, Reddick darted beneath Elliott as Riley Herbst and Keselowski crashed behind them. Reddick tagged Elliott, sending him spinning, and crossed the line just 0.308 seconds ahead of Stenhouse. The top nine cars finished within three-tenths of a second, with Reddick having only led the final lap—a rare feat in Daytona 500 history.
Teamwork and Strategy Highlighted in 23XI Victory
Michael Jordan, deeply invested in the sport since his youth in Wilmington, North Carolina, expressed overwhelming pride in his team, especially noting Riley Herbst’s role in the closing moments.
“I can’t even believe it. It was so gratifying,”
said Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing.
“You never know how these races are going to end. You just try to survive.”
“We hung in there all day. Great strategy by the team and gave ourselves a chance at the end. I’m ecstatic. I don’t even know what to say. It feels like I won a championship.”
– Michael Jordan, Co-Owner 23XI Racing
“I thought Riley did an unbelievable job pushing at the end,”
Jordan stated.
“That shows you what teamwork can really, really do. He doesn’t get enough credit. He won’t get enough credit, but we feel the love. We understand exactly what he did.”
– Michael Jordan, Co-Owner 23XI Racing
The win emphasized the value of cooperation, with Reddick himself acknowledging that Herbst’s push was instrumental to his Daytona 500 win. For Bubba Wallace, the day was bittersweet—he led the most laps of any driver and played a pivotal role for the team, even as he finished tenth.
“I thought this was our week, the best 500 I’ve ever had, and come up short sucks,”
Wallace said after the race.
“It was a good day for us, but damn! Try again next year.”
– Bubba Wallace, Driver, 23XI Racing
William Byron’s Three-Peat Hopes Dashed Early
William Byron entered the race aiming to become the first NASCAR Cup driver to win three straight Daytona 500s, but misfortune struck early. He was involved in a five-car accident on the backstretch during his qualifying race, forcing Hendrick Motorsports to transport a backup car overnight to Daytona.
Byron’s troubles compounded during the Daytona 500 itself, as he was collected in multiple incidents—including a significant crash on lap five and a massive 20-car pileup on lap 124—yet managed to finish the race in twelfth place.
“We had a lot of damage on our car from the Stage 1 (lap five) incident,”
Byron commented post-race.
“Our right-front suspension was bent, so the car was driving really weird and it was just super, super loose, as well as tight at the same time.”
“I couldn’t believe we had a shot there at the end. I thought that was amazing. It was a great strategy with the fuel sequence. There was one time I got clear, and I probably could have taken the middle, but I didn’t know if the balance of my car could handle being there. I just had to keep my car straight, so I thought if I tried to make a block, I would wreck.”
– William Byron, Driver, Hendrick Motorsports
Stenhouse and Single-Car Teams Battle for the Win
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a veteran of superspeedway races, led a strong campaign for his single-car team, Hyak Motorsports Chevy. Stenhouse, with a Daytona 500 victory in 2023 and past wins at both Daytona and Talladega, positioned himself as a contender throughout the event, ultimately finishing second to Reddick. His finish came just 0.308 seconds behind the leader.
“It’s never bad to finish in the top-five in the Daytona 500. It’s a big race and we have left here finishing in the 30s and have been pretty down about that,”
said Stenhouse, who led laps twice and contributed to the race’s 65 lead changes among 25 competitors. – Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Driver, Hyak Motorsports
A New Era for 23XI Racing and Toyota
23XI Racing’s Daytona 500 win signifies a possible shift in NASCAR’s balance of power, positioning them as a new force among Toyota partners and within the Cup Series at large. With veteran star Michael Jordan at the helm and a fast-rising lineup, the team’s strategic execution at Daytona showcased how collaboration and adaptability can yield historic results. As the NASCAR season unfolds, all eyes will be on how 23XI and its drivers build upon this monumental Daytona performance.
The 2026 Daytona 500 will be remembered not just for the dramatic last-lap win, but also for the intense competition, teamwork, and the potential dawn of a new leader in Toyota’s racing stable—a development that adds intrigue and excitement for the rest of the NASCAR season.
