DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a finish that will be etched into NASCAR lore, Tyler Reddick emerged from a cloud of smoke and twisted metal to win the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Leading only the final lap—the only one that truly matters—Reddick delivered the first "Great American Race" trophy to 23XI Racing and its legendary co-owner, Michael Jordan.
The victory serves as a poignant redemption for Reddick, who finished as the runner-up in the 2025 event and suffered through a grueling 38-race winless drought.
A Wild Finish to 'The Great American Race'
The final 500 yards of the race were pure "Daytona madness." As the field thundered toward the checkered flag, a multi-car collision erupted behind the leaders. Carson Hocevar, who led at the white flag, spun in Turn 1, triggering a chain reaction that swallowed several contenders.
In the closing moments, Reddick utilized a powerful surge from 23XI teammate Riley Herbst. He muscled his No. 45 Chumba Casino Toyota Camry XSE past Chase Elliott, who had appeared poised for his first Daytona 500 win. As Herbst attempted a late block on Brad Keselowski, contact sent a knot of cars sliding sideways across the finish line. Reddick, however, remained clear of the fray, crossing the line 0.308 seconds ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
A Win for the Ages—and for MJ
For Michael Jordan, the victory was a "slam dunk" moment that came just two days before his 63rd birthday. In a jubilant Victory Lane celebration, the NBA Hall of Famer bear-hugged Reddick before the two hoisted the Harley J. Earl trophy together.
"It feels like I won a championship," Jordan said. "You never know how these races are going to end. You just try to survive. We hung in there all day, and for the team to get this win—I’m ecstatic."
Reddick echoed the sentiment, admitting the pressure of driving for a global icon. "When you drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year," Reddick confessed. "For us to go on that drought, it made us look hard in the mirror."
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Redemption After a Year of Hardship
The win carries deep personal weight for the 30-year-old California native. Reddick’s 2025 season was overshadowed by the health battle of his infant son, Rookie George, who underwent major surgery to remove a kidney tumor in October.
Standing in Victory Lane with his eldest son, Beau, Reddick recalled a conversation from earlier that morning. "The best part is my son asked before this race, 'Are you finally going to win this race?' Something about today just felt right."
With the winless streak broken and a Daytona 500 ring on the way, Reddick and 23XI Racing have officially set the pace for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
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