Tyler Reddick secured a stunning win at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, delivering a landmark victory for team owner Michael Jordan. The race, held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, saw Reddick make a decisive late move to overtake leader Chase Elliott and claim the iconic Harley J. Earl trophy just days before Jordan’s 63rd birthday.
Despite leading for only a single lap during the 200-lap event, Reddick’s bold inside bump pass on Elliott during the final turn sealed his first Daytona 500 win and marked a remarkable triumph for Jordan’s 23XI Racing team.
Reddick’s Winning Move and Jordan’s Reaction in Victory Lane
Coming off the final turn, Chase Elliott appeared poised to win after dominating late in the race. However, Reddick executed a daring inside maneuver reminiscent of his team owner’s competitive spirit, nudging Elliott to take the lead and cross the finish line first.
After the race, Reddick reflected on the chaotic finish:
“Just incredible how it all played out, Just true Daytona madness.”
– Tyler Reddick, Driver
Michael Jordan joined Reddick in Victory Lane to celebrate the historic win, sharing his excitement and surprise. Jordan said,
I can’t believe it. You never know how these races are going to end. You’re just trying to survive. We just hung in there all day. I’m just ecstatic.
– Michael Jordan, Team Owner
The sellout crowd also reacted with astonishment as Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota crossed the finish line ahead of the pack.
Bubba Wallace’s Effort and Team Dynamics at 23XI Racing
Bubba Wallace, a teammate and original member of 23XI Racing, led for 39 laps, the most in Sunday’s race, pushing hard to become the first Black winner of the Daytona 500. Unfortunately, after a critical pit stop on Lap 181, Wallace lost momentum and finished 10th.
Wallace acknowledged the emotional significance of the day for Jordan’s birthday as well as the team’s effort:
I don’t want my emotions to take away from the monumental day they just accomplished — Happy birthday, MJ.
– Bubba Wallace, Driver
He added,
I thought this was our week, the best 500 I’ve ever had, and come up short, sucks. But couldn’t be more proud of the team.
– Bubba Wallace, Driver
Race Overview: Intense Competition and Record Lead Changes
Reddick was not considered a front-runner early in the Daytona 500, which featured a record 66 lead changes among 26 different drivers in the 41-car field. The 68th edition of this storied race was marked by high intensity and constant shifts in leadership.
Chase Elliott, who has been voted the Cup Series Most Popular Driver for the past eight years, surged to the front after the Lap 197 restart and looked ready to finally claim his first Daytona 500 victory in one of his 11 attempts.
However, Reddick’s successful inside bump against Elliott crushed those hopes. Elliott remarked on his defensive position near the race end:
At that point you’re on defense. That’s a very tough place to be. If I had thrown a double-block on the No. 45, it would have just crashed us. It really sucks to be that close … and not finish it off.
– Chase Elliott, Driver
Reddick’s Comeback After a Tough Previous Season
Entering the race, Reddick, who turned 30 earlier this year, was largely overlooked after a difficult and winless 2025 season, which ended his streak of three straight years with at least two victories. His performance at Daytona marked a significant turnaround.
Reflecting on the previous year, Reddick said,
Last year was really hard for all of us, hard for me. When you’re a Cup driver and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year.
– Tyler Reddick, Driver
Sunday’s victory was the ninth of Reddick’s career and came on a breezy day at the 2.5-mile oval track, where the wind gusts over 30 mph complicated the handling, especially through the challenging Turn 4.
Race Conditions and Multiple Crashes Shape the Competition
The combination of strong winds, aggressive driving, and risky tactics resulted in some of the most exciting and dangerous racing in Daytona 500 history. By the halfway point, the lead had changed 27 times, marking the third-highest number of lead swaps seen in this event.
The race also witnessed several major multi-car crashes, including a massive 18-car collision on Lap 125 that eliminated numerous top contenders as well as the youngest driver in the field, 19-year-old rookie Connor Zilisch.
Former Daytona 500 winners Austin Cindric (2022), Austin Dillon (2018), and Chase Briscoe, who started on the front row, managed to finish but were laps behind the leaders—Dillon was 63 laps down due to the crashes.
Challenges for Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing Teammates
Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion and co-owner of 23XI Racing, faced setbacks after being involved in a late-race crash caused by Corey Heim, a young developmental driver for the team. This incident resulted in Christopher Bell crashing hard into the outside wall, forcing Hamlin’s car to finish a distant 31st.
Despite this, 23XI Racing still had three drivers active near the end: Reddick, Wallace, and Riley Herbst. Hamlin expressed gratitude for Herbst’s help in the final stretch, stating,
I don’t win that race without Riley Herbst.
– Tyler Reddick, Driver
Reddick explained how Herbst drafted behind him before being caught in a crash that cleared the way for Reddick to pull ahead.
Commenting on the team’s persistence amid adversity, Hamlin said,
I know the odds of winning here are really, really small. After I got crashed at the end, I looked at the scoreboard — how many horses have I got left in this race? It was great to see Tyler making all the right moves, and Riley giving him a push at the end. It certainly soothes the sting of the day for the 11 car.
– Denny Hamlin, Driver and Co-owner
Reddick’s Daytona 500 History and Personal Motivation
Before this win, Reddick had an uneven record at the Daytona 500, including a runner-up finish in 2025 to William Byron, and six finishes outside the top 25 since his 2019 debut. The race held added personal significance, as his oldest son Beau had asked him before the race if he would finally win it.
Reddick reflected on that moment of motivation:
I didn’t know if I’d ever win this race. Honestly, the best part is my son asked before this race. Are you finally going to win this race? Something about today just felt right.
– Tyler Reddick, Driver
The victory not only marked a milestone for Reddick’s career but also for Michael Jordan’s team, reinforcing 23XI Racing as a rising force in NASCAR’s premier event.
