Michael Jordan’s Daytona 500 Ring: Tyler Reddick’s 1-Lap Lead Delivers NASCAR’s Biggest Win

By the Associated Press 7:28 p.m. EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Tyler Reddick turned a single lap of advantage into the most coveted trophy in stock-car racing, giving Michael Jordan his first Daytona 500 victory as a team owner.

Reddick, wheeling the No. 45 Toyota fielded by Jordan’s 23XI Racing, parlayed a late-race strategy call into the lead and held it for the final circuit under green-white-checkered conditions to secure NASCAR’s biggest crown. The triumph marks the first time the six-time NBA champion’s burgeoning race organization has won the Great American Race, completing Jordan’s crossover from basketball dynasty to motorsports milestone.

The outcome hinged on fuel mileage and flawless execution in the closing miles, allowing Reddick to stretch his one-lap margin to the finish line ahead of a hard-charging pack. The victory also stamps the 23XI Racing banner as a legitimate powerhouse after only four seasons of competition.

Jordan, who formed the team with fellow Cup veteran Denny Hamlin in 2020, watched from atop the pit box as Reddick delivered the signature win every owner covets. The moment instantly etches both driver and owner into Daytona lore, adding a new chapter to the track’s 66-year chronicle of dramatic finishes.

The win is Reddick’s first in NASCAR’s season opener and continues the trend of first-time Daytona 500 champions, underscoring the unpredictable nature of restrictor-plate racing.