Michael Jordan Is a Champion Again, Praises NASCAR as 23XI Wins Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Michael Jordan spent Sunday celebrating a Daytona 500 victory with class and restraint, embracing a new chapter for his 23XI Racing team just months after a bruising legal fight with NASCAR that ended in a winter settlement. Tyler Reddick's last-lap surge produced the biggest win in the six-year team's history, and Jordan used the moment to press for unity and growth across the sport.
Victory and a Calm After a Storm
On Sunday, February 16, 2026 (ET), Reddick seized the checkered flag after a chaotic finish that included a crash by Chase Elliott on the final lap. Reddick led only the last circuit, but it was enough to carry the Toyota for 23XI into Victory Lane. The win came less than three months after 23XI and other teams secured sweeping concessions in a legal dispute with NASCAR that had been fought in court.
Rather than use the moment to gloat, Jordan was measured and magnanimous. He praised the Daytona 500's importance to him and his family in a pre-race television interview, and after the victory he embraced his driver in Victory Lane and hoisted the Harley J. Earl trophy alongside Reddick. Jordan also spent time with teammates and rival owners, offering congratulations rather than recriminations.
Jordan reflected on the offseason and what lies ahead, saying, "The offseason was the offseason, but I think this is a whole new beginning. " His demeanor suggested a deliberate choice to move past the litigation and focus on building 23XI into a perennial contender.
Love of the Sport, Not Just the Spotlight
Jordan's connection to stock-car racing runs deep. He grew up in a region steeped in NASCAR culture and was introduced to the sport through his father, who often took young Jordan to races across the Southeast. That lifelong fandom was a key factor in his decision to co-found 23XI Racing in 2020, and it helps explain why he invested time and energy into the team rather than treating ownership as a short-term branding exercise.
Jordan's passion for NASCAR informed his willingness to litigate for structural changes when he and partner teams felt the business model needed reform. The settlement last December yielded major concessions, including alterations to revenue sharing that reshape the financial landscape of the series. Yet Jordan's message at Daytona was forward-looking: he urged teams and leaders to communicate better and to work together to grow the sport they love.
Daytona Drama and Personal Moments
The race itself featured several emotional beats. Reddick described the finish as "true Daytona madness, " admitting he had already lost his voice from celebrating. He will now mark the triumph with a Daytona 500 ring that coincides with Jordan's birthday; Jordan, who turns 63 on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (ET), joked about his ring size in Victory Lane and savored the milestone.
Teammate Bubba Wallace, who dominated large portions of the event but finished 10th, received a consoling embrace from Jordan in Victory Lane. The scene underscored how Jordan balanced personal joy with empathy for teammates and rivals alike. Even after greeting NASCAR leadership present at the speedway, Jordan remained celebratory in tone rather than combative, offering hugs and warm words to many around him.
For 23XI Racing, the Daytona 500 win is validation of years of commitment and investment. For NASCAR, the moment offers a chance to move past recent turmoil and showcase the sport's on-track drama. For Jordan, it proved that championship moments can be savored without stoking old feuds — and that his investment in racing is motivated by genuine affection for the sport, not simply the pursuit of headlines.
