For years, fans have associated Michael Jordan with basketball greatness and his phenomenal performances on the court. However, in recent years, as co-owner of 23XI Racing, Jordan has built a second legacy in a very different arena.
That legacy reached a major milestone when the team got its first Daytona 500 victory last weekend. For Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin, it was a moment that validated years of patience and belief. The victory also proved that 23XI Racing is no longer just a promising project but is now a team capable of winning on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
Legal Uncertainty to Victory Lane Confidence for Michael Jordan
Just months before their Daytona breakthrough, 23XI Racing faced serious uncertainty amid legal disputes with NASCAR over charter agreements. At one point, Jordan and Hamlin even chose to race as open teams rather than sign an early deal, a decision that required courage and financial stability.
Those decisions placed pressure on everyone in the organization, including drivers, sponsors, and staff, as everyone wondered how things would unfold. Despite those challenges, the team stayed focused. By the time Speedweeks arrived in Daytona, there was a sense of confidence in the garage, as they believed they had something special.
That belief paid off when Tyler Reddick surged to the front on the final lap and claimed victory, giving him his first Daytona 500 win and the biggest moment in 23XI Racing’s young history.
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Jordan’s Four NASCAR Drivers
The success at Daytona was not the result of a single driver and reflected teamwork across a growing roster.
Reddick remains the centerpiece of the organization and is known for his aggressive but calculated style. He rebounded from a difficult 2025 season and personal family challenges to deliver when it mattered most.
Bubba Wallace continues to serve as one of the team’s most recognizable faces since joining 23XI in its early days. Wallace has helped shape the team’s identity and culture, and his leadership remains valuable as the organization expands.
Riley Herbst played a major role in the Daytona win, and even though he did not take the checkered flag, his late-race push helped push Reddick first towards the finish line. After the race, Jordan made sure to credit Herbst’s unselfish effort.
The fourth driver, Corey Heim, is still early in his Cup Series journey and will compete part-time while gaining valuable experience. His presence shows that 23XI Racing is thinking long term.
Expectations and the Road Ahead for 23XI Racing
Jordan has never hidden his expectations, and before the race, he spoke with Fox Sports reporter Jamie Little, saying, “I’ll be watching. I will. I’ll be changing the channel and listening quite a bit. We got a couple new kids that are learning. We got a couple of veterans that are going to be up front. I think we have a good team. We have good leaders.”
Inside the organization, competition director Dave Rogers also pointed out how meaningful the moment was, “I’ve lost track of how many years I’ve been in the sport. It’s 27 or 28, and this is the first time I’ve been in Daytona on a Monday, pushing a car into the museum.”
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23XI Racing President Steve Lauletta also said that this win at Daytona helps a lot with the team’s focus, “A lot of people on the team, it’s their first Daytona 500 win. That makes a big, big difference in terms of how they’re going to pay attention and focus for the rest of the season.”
Reddick admitted after the race that the win motivates everyone to work harder, “We’ve done a really good job of setting ourselves up for success. And I think this just, if anything, is going to motivate us to work that much harder at the start of this year as we get going.”
With three full-time entries and a developing fourth program, 23XI Racing enters the rest of the season with clear direction. For Jordan and his team, the focus now is on consistency and staying competitive every week.
