Tyler Reddick achieved his first Daytona 500 victory on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, breaking a 38-race drought and underlining his reputation as a rising NASCAR star. The Tyler Reddick Daytona 500 victory delivered the inaugural win for 23XI Racing at the Daytona 500, solidifying Reddick’s position as a driver to watch in 2024 and earning significant acclaim for co-owners Denny Hamlin and sports icon Michael Jordan.
Reddick Delivers Historic Win for 23XI Racing
Since joining the upper echelons of NASCAR competition, Tyler Reddick has often been mentioned as one of the most promising younger drivers in the Cup Series. On Sunday, he capitalized on that potential by taking home the sport’s crown jewel event after 219 career starts and accumulating nine wins. At 30, Reddick ended a lengthy winless skid stretching through the entire 2025 season, making this triumph particularly meaningful for himself and the 23XI Racing organization.
Speaking immediately after the win, Reddick acknowledged the expectations that come with representing a team co-owned by two heavyweights in the sport.
“When you’re a Cup driver and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year,”
Reddick said in his television interview.
“For us to go on that drought we did made us look hard in the mirror. And really proud of everyone.”
– Tyler Reddick, NASCAR driver
Late Drama Decides the Daytona 500 Finish
Reddick’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. As the race approached its conclusion, Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar and Michael McDowell led the field into the final lap. The decisive moment unfolded when the two leaders collided, enabling Reddick to surge ahead, helped by a critical push from Riley Herbst. Emerging at the front, Reddick held the lead while chaos erupted behind him, with the four cars closest to him crashing as they headed to the finish.
“Just incredible how it all played out,”
Reddick said about the chaotic ending. “Just true Daytona madness.” – Tyler Reddick, NASCAR driver
Final Lap Wreck Claims Second Through Fifth Positions
In a turn of events rarely seen in such a pivotal race, the drivers positioned to finish second through fifth—Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski—all crashed on the final stretch. Instead of conducting their post-race interviews on pit road as tradition dictates, each was instead sent to the infield medical center for post-race evaluation. Fortunately, all four drivers were soon cleared and released.
Reflecting on the turbulent finish, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. observed,
“It’s never bad to finish top five or runnerup in the Daytona 500,”
acknowledging the accomplishment despite the disappointment. – Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NASCAR driver
Chase Elliott Comes Up Short in Pursuit of Victory
Chase Elliott appeared poised for a memorable win after leading into Turn 4, only to see his chances slip away following Reddick’s last-second advance with Herbst’s help. The outcome was a source of clear frustration for Elliott, who expressed disappointment after coming so close to one of the sport’s most coveted victories.
“I just hate to be that close,”
Elliott admitted after the race.
“It’s such a big deal down here. It kind of sucks, but that’s part of this deal. … It’s pretty disappointing. I don’t know what else to tell you, other than we were leading the Daytona 500 off of Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag and we didn’t win.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
As Elliott further explained, losing his teammate as a pusher made defending his position impossible:
“Once he was gone, I was on total defense. And it just becomes really difficult to cover those massive runs.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
Kub Keselowski Battles Back After Injury
Brad Keselowski’s top-five finish carried extra significance after his recovery from a fractured right femur sustained just eight weeks before the race. While Keselowski hoped for a victory, simply competing and contending offered its own sense of accomplishment. Impressively, Keselowski stood for interviews outside the care center without a cane, signaling strong progress in his recovery.
“I felt really well in the car and got in a crash at the end and couldn’t even feel it,”
Keselowski explained after the race.
“So pretty good. … I’m proud to make it this far. I didn’t know a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure I was going to get to run this race and have an opportunity to win it. That feels pretty good. Pretty disappointed to not bring it home.”
– Brad Keselowski, NASCAR driver
NASCAR Readies for Next Race in Atlanta
The dramatic conclusion of the Daytona 500 sets the stage for another pivotal event as drivers and teams prepare for Atlanta Motor Speedway. Known for its own dramatic moments, Atlanta’s 1.5-mile configuration could present additional challenges, especially concerning safety and potential last-lap incidents based on logistical differences compared to Daytona.
Providing his perspective on race management and caution calls, Denny Hamlin—a co-owner of Reddick’s team—said,
“As long as it’s the same for all races and this weekend, they were very consistent. So I don’t think anyone should have any gripes about that.”
– Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing co-owner
Legacy of Reddick’s Triumph and Next Steps
Tyler Reddick’s Daytona 500 victory marks a defining moment in his career and in the history of 23XI Racing, raising expectations for the rest of the season. The win not only spotlights Reddick’s talent but also underscores the growing legacy of the team built by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. With the next race looming at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the focus intensifies on whether Reddick and 23XI Racing can build on their momentum in a season already marked by intense competition and remarkable comebacks.
