michael jordan daytona 500: Tyler Reddick's last-lap heroics amid a 20-car melee

The 68th running of the Daytona 500 delivered chaos and a storybook finish: Tyler Reddick drove to victory for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing, leading only the final lap as a 20-car pileup unfolded behind him. The race somehow finished under green, rain threatened but held off, and 25 of the 41 starters led at least one lap in a wildly competitive season opener.

Reddick, 23XI and a trophy moment

Reddick's victory snapped a winless 2025 and instantly elevated the driver back into marquee status by taking NASCAR's crown jewel. The winning move came exiting Turn 4 on the final lap, with Reddick finding the seam and holding on to the checkered flag. The win was also a major moment for the team owner, who celebrated in Victory Lane saying, "Feels like I won a championship. "

For 23XI Racing, the day was nearly flawless on paper: all three full-time cars finished inside the top ten, the first time that has happened for the organization. That result came in the team's first race back after a high-profile legal matter with the sanctioning body concluded in a settlement. The combined result — a headline win and a top-ten sweep — will be a major morale booster and a tangible early-season statement for the team.

Near-misses, heartbreak and the big wrecks

The finish could easily have looked very different. Drivers such as Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, Erik Jones, Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. all had legitimate shots at the victory in the closing laps, and several were jockeying for position when the wreck cascade began. Chase Elliott emerged from Turn 1 with the lead for much of the final circuit and managed his run with restraint — famously avoiding a risky block that would likely have produced disaster — only to be collected and sent into the wall moments later. His reaction summed up the bitter end: "Really sucks to be that close. "

Spire Motorsports experienced the sharpest sting of the afternoon. An inspired fuel-save and strong runs by Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar left the team running 1-2 as the field chased the white flag, but Hocevar was turned from the lead on the last lap and his day evaporated; McDowell also dropped out of contention in the melee. The team left with the realization it was within striking distance of a Cup win but came home short.

Race control, weather and the bigger picture

Race control's handling of the event drew praise. Officials proactively moved the race start up one hour ET as storms approached the area, a decision that helped the event avoid a rain-shortened outcome — which would have been the first season opener cut short since 2009. Throughout the afternoon, cautions were deployed when necessary but stewards largely allowed the field to race, including permitting the field to race back to the line late in the running. That approach kept the competition pure and preserved the drama of a green-flag finish despite the high-risk moments that produced the largest pileup of the day.

The 2026 Daytona 500 will be remembered for its contradictions: a measured call from officials that protected the integrity of the finish, visceral last-lap aggression that produced both triumph and heartbreak, and a championship trophy hoisted by a team and owner who had plenty to celebrate. For Reddick and his crew, the victory is both a personal redemption and a major early boost for 23XI. For several others, it will serve as fuel for the long season ahead.