DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Tyler Reddick captured the Daytona 500 victory driving a Toyota for Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team after Chase Elliott wrecked in their battle for the lead.
Race-Clinching Moment
Reddick led only the final lap to the checkered flag for the team co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin, racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, sparked the last caution by colliding with teammate Christopher Bell with nine laps to go. This incident set the stage for a thrilling four-lap dash to the finish.
Chase Elliott, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, took command on the final lap when leader Carson Hocevar spun out. Victory seemed within reach for Elliott’s first Daytona 500 win. Instead, Reddick surged forward, made contact with Elliott to trigger the crash, and powered ahead to claim the win at Daytona International Speedway.
Broader Context and Team Sweep
Michael Jordan led the charge in a federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR that settled on the ninth day of trial, altering the revenue-sharing structure in America’s premier motorsports series. Jordan stated, “Someone had to ‘challenge NASCAR.'”
The triumph completes a Daytona weekend sweep for lawsuit-involved team owners. Bob Jenkins’ Front Row Motorsports kicked off with Chandler Smith’s Truck Series win on Friday. Richard Childress followed with Austin Hill’s Saturday victory. Jordan and Hamlin then delivered in “The Great American Race.”
Jordan receives this win as an early birthday present ahead of turning 63 on Tuesday.
Podium Finishers
Past Daytona winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano took second and third, placing Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford drivers on the podium. Elliott salvaged fourth place but sat dejected on the track’s outer wall after climbing out of his car.
