DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Azat TV) – Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team achieved a monumental milestone on Sunday, February 15, 2026, securing its first Daytona 500 victory with driver Tyler Reddick. The triumph at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR’s most prestigious event, arrived just over two months after 23XI Racing settled a significant antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, and was followed by a moment during Jordan’s post-race celebration that drew widespread attention and sparked online debate.
The win marked a pivotal moment for Jordan, the six-time NBA champion and co-owner of 23XI Racing, who expressed profound joy, stating, “It feels like I won a championship.” The victory came as an early 63rd birthday present for Jordan, who turns 63 on Tuesday.
Daytona 500 Triumph for 23XI Racing
Tyler Reddick, driving the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, clinched “The Great American Race” with a dramatic last-lap pass. The 30-year-old California native led only the final lap, a testament to the chaotic and strategy-driven nature of superspeedway racing. Reddick’s decisive move, assisted by teammate Riley Herbst, involved contact with Chase Elliott, who had momentarily taken the lead after Carson Hocevar was spun off the track. The ensuing collision sent Elliott crashing, allowing Reddick to surge past for the win.
The victory snapped a 38-race losing streak for Reddick, whose last Cup Series win was late in the 2024 season. His previous year was heavily focused on his infant son, who was found to have a chest tumor. Reddick, who finished runner-up in the 2025 Daytona 500, described the win as “incredible how it all played out. Just true Daytona madness.”
23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, who finished 31st in the race, underscored Jordan’s deep connection to his team. Hamlin recounted a pre-race meeting where he told 23XI employees, “You have the power to bring joy to Michael Jordan. You have that power and nobody else can do it.” The team, including Bubba Wallace who led a race-high 40 laps before finishing 10th, clearly took that message to heart.
Victory Amidst Legal Aftermath for Michael Jordan
The Daytona 500 victory carried additional weight, unfolding just weeks after Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports settled a high-profile federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. Jordan had been a prominent figure in the 15-month legal battle, which ultimately led to a significant overhaul of NASCAR’s revenue-sharing model and permanent charter agreements for teams.
The settlement, reached after an eight-day trial, was described by Jordan in an interview with FOX Sports as a development that “opens up conversations amongst each other to continue to grow the game.” The timing of the win was particularly striking, as Jordan watched his team triumph from a suite overlooking the very superspeedway owned by NASCAR founders, the France family, whom he had just faced in federal court. NASCAR Chairman Jim France, a defendant in the lawsuit, was seen in victory lane, congratulating the winning team.
The weekend also saw a Daytona sweep for three team owners involved in the trial: Bob Jenkins, Richard Childress, and the Jordan-Hamlin duo, with Hamlin shrugging off the trio of wins as a “coincidence” while quipping, “All we do is win.”
Jordan’s Celebration Draws Scrutiny After Win
While the victory was a moment of unbridled jubilation for Michael Jordan and his team, a brief interaction during the post-race festivities garnered significant public attention. Cameras captured Jordan briefly placing his hands on and pinching the lower back of Tyler Reddick’s infant son, Beau, in victory lane. The video quickly went viral across social media platforms, with some fans deeming the gesture “inappropriate” and sparking debate online.
Sources close to the team, however, suggested Jordan’s action was likely playful, given his long-standing relationship with Reddick and his family within the NASCAR community. Jordan has been seen celebrating with Beau on several previous occasions, indicating a familiar and affectionate dynamic rather than malicious intent. Despite the differing interpretations, the moment added another layer to the already eventful celebration of 23XI Racing’s historic win.
A New Chapter for 23XI Racing and NASCAR
The Daytona 500 win represents more than just a trophy for 23XI Racing; it signals a potential turning point for the team and validates Michael Jordan’s significant investment and commitment to NASCAR. Coming off a challenging 2025 season where the team secured only one victory, Reddick’s triumph to kick off 2026 provides crucial momentum, especially as Reddick approaches free agency at the end of the season.
The changes stemming from the antitrust settlement, including permanent charters and a new revenue distribution model, are expected to foster greater stability and growth for teams like 23XI Racing. This win, achieved under the spotlight of NASCAR’s biggest race and in the immediate wake of a contentious legal battle, positions Jordan’s team not just as a competitor, but as a key player in shaping the sport’s future. The blend of on-track success and off-track influence suggests a new era for both the team and the broader NASCAR landscape.
The confluence of 23XI Racing’s breakthrough Daytona 500 victory, the recent resolution of a landmark antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, and the public scrutiny of Michael Jordan’s post-race celebration underscores a period of significant transformation and heightened visibility for the legendary athlete’s involvement in motorsports. This win, more than just a sporting achievement, reflects the evolving power dynamics within NASCAR and the intense public interest that follows Jordan in all his ventures.