Tyler Reddick wins Daytona 500 for Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing

Tyler Reddick Wins 2026 Daytona 500 for Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing

Tyler Reddick emerged from a chaotic final lap at Daytona International Speedway to capture the 2026 Daytona 500 on Sunday, delivering co-owner Michael Jordan his first victory in NASCAR’s most prestigious race just two months after the basketball legend helped settle a federal antitrust lawsuit against the series.

Reddick led just one lap — the final one — piloting the No. 45 Toyota to the checkered flag after Chase Elliott crashed while the two were battling for the lead in the closing moments of the 200-lap event. The victory marks the first Daytona 500 triumph for 23XI Racing, the team owned by NBA Hall of Famer Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.iheart

A Wild Final Lap

The race’s dramatic conclusion began when leader Carson Hocevar was spun off the track on the final lap, handing control to Elliott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott. It appeared Elliott was finally set to claim his first Daytona 500 win.wlos

Instead, Reddick made a surge from fourth position on the backstretch, receiving a push from 23XI teammate Riley Herbst. As they entered the final turn, Reddick made contact with Elliott, sending him crashing, and sailed past to claim victory.sportingnews

Former winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano finished second and third, respectively, as Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford each placed a driver on the podium. Elliott recovered to finish fourth, sitting dejected on the outside wall after climbing from his car.racingnews365

Jordan’s Victory Lane Moment

For Jordan, who turns 63 on Tuesday, the win came as an early birthday celebration in Victory Lane. The triumph arrives weeks after NASCAR reached a settlement on Dec. 11, 2025, in the federal antitrust lawsuit in which Jordan had been a prominent figure. The case, resolved on the ninth day of trial, resulted in changes to NASCAR’s revenue-sharing model and granted all teams permanent charters.nytimes

“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said after the settlement in December.cnn

Surviving ‘The Big One’

Reddick was also among the drivers who avoided “The Big One” — a 20-car crash on Lap 124 triggered when Hamlin made an aggressive attempt to pass leader Justin Allgaier. The wreck eliminated Allgaier, Hamlin, and Christopher Bell, among others.foxsports

The 30-year-old Reddick, a two-time Xfinity Series champion who previously finished second in the 2024 Daytona 500, became only the fourth driver in history to win the race while leading only the final lap. 23XI Racing placed three cars in the top ten, with Herbst eighth and Bubba Wallace tenth.racingnews365