Michael Jordan celebrates first Daytona 500 championship as NASCAR owner

Five years ago, Hall of Fame basketball icon Michael Jordan went racing. His 23XI Racing team, co-owned by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, debuted at the 2021 Daytona 500.

Two-time Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick joined the team in the No. 45 Toyota in 2022. He made good on that partnership in the biggest race of the year in 2026.

Reddick took the checkered flag to win the Daytona 500 – the first for him as a driver and Jordan’s 23XI Racing.

Jordan joined Reddick and the rest of the crew in victory lane and hoisted the winning trophy with his driver.

The 2026 Daytona 500 marked the ninth win for 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

It’s a stellar start to the year for a team that’s been mired in an off-track legal dispute with NASCAR’s governing body. NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports settled their antitrust lawsuit in December after the 2025 season wrapped up.

With that in the rear view, Jordan and his team started off the 2026 Cup Series season in the best way possible.

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Michael Jordan: 23 images of the NBA Hall of Famer, NASCAR team owner at races

(L-R) Charlotte Bobcats President Fred Whitfield and NBA legend Michael Jordan greet Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, prior to the NASCAR Nextel Open on May 19, 2007 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Michael Jordan signs his autograph on a pair of shoes for Earnhardt.

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