In a dramatic finale at Daytona International Speedway, Tyler Reddick claimed victory in the 2026 Daytona 500 on Sunday, delivering a last-lap pass that sent 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan into a jubilant celebration. The iconic NBA Hall of Famer, who turns 63 on Tuesday, embraced Reddick in Victory Lane and together they hoisted the Harley J. Earl Trophy, solidifying Jordan’s new status as a Daytona 500 winner. Jordan also announced that he’ll receive a Daytona 500 ring for his birthday, proudly noting his shoe size is 13.
Reddick, 30, from Corning, California, led only one lap all day—the final one—but it was enough to secure a dramatic victory and set a new Daytona 500 record: 25 different drivers led at least one lap during the race. The win marked Reddick’s ninth career Cup Series victory and his first since late in the 2024 season. After a winless 2025 season spent focusing on his infant son’s health battle, Reddick’s triumph was a personal and professional breakthrough.
The race was a rollercoaster of emotion, featuring multiple NASCAR stars. Reddick’s teammate Bubba Wallace, who led a race-high 40 laps, finished 10th and shared an emotional moment in Victory Lane with Jordan, who offered words of encouragement from behind. Team co-owner Denny Hamlin, 45, who drove for Joe Gibbs Racing, was involved in a late-race collision with teammate Christopher Bell that set the stage for the final push to the checkered flag.
The closing laps were electrifying. On the final lap, Carson Hocevar was spun off, Chase Elliott briefly grabbed the lead, but Reddick surged with assistance from teammate Riley Herbst. Contact with Elliott sent the four-time Daytona 500 winner crashing, clearing the path for Reddick to cross the finish line first.
The victory also carried symbolic weight off the track. Jordan, who was central to a December federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR that led to a landmark revenue-sharing settlement, celebrated the win in the suite overlooking the superspeedway that the France family—founders and private owners of NASCAR—built. NASCAR chairman Jim France personally congratulated Reddick and Jordan in Victory Lane.
The Daytona 500 weekend became a showcase for the owners involved in the lawsuit. Bob Jenkins and Richard Childress, who testified and won the Truck Series and Xfinity Series openers, were followed by Jordan and Hamlin’s Cup Series triumph, making it a sweep for the litigation’s front-facing figures.
Former race winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano completed the podium in second and third, with Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford each represented. Elliott, meanwhile, was left dejected and in disbelief after the late-race crash.
For Tyler Reddick, the win was a culmination of personal resilience and racing skill. For Michael Jordan, it was yet another chapter in a storied career, this time as a champion in “The Great American Race.”
