DAYTONA BEACH — Tyler Reddick needed a game-winner at the buzzer to win the Daytona 500 Sunday and deliver team owner Michael Jordan another championship.
Reddick led a single lap on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, and it wasn’t for long.
With leader Chase Elliott seemingly in command coming off Turn 4, Reddick made a move reminiscent of his boss. Reddick dove to the inside and bumped Elliott to pass him, earning a career-defining victory two days prior to the NBA great’s 63rd birthday.
“Just incredible how it all played out,” Reddick said. “Just true Daytona madness.”
Jordan met Reddick and his team in Victory Lane and helped him lift the Harley J. Early trophy.
“I can’t believe it,” Jordan said. “You never know how these races are going to end. You’re just trying to survive. We just hung in there all day.
“I’m just ecstatic.”
Jordan, like everyone in the sellout crowd, was stunned to see Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota take the checkered flag.
Teammate Bubba Wallace, the original member of Jordan’s 23XI Racing co-owned with NASCAR star Denny Hamlin, lead a race-high 39 laps in his bid to become the first Black Daytona 500 winner. But the two-time runner-up (2018, 2022) in the sport’s biggest race lost ground during a Lap 181 pit stop and finished 10th.
“I don’t want my emotions to take away from the monumental day they just accomplished — Happy birthday, MJ,” Wallace said. “That’s a massive birthday present.
“I thought this was our week, the best 500 I’ve ever had, and come up short, sucks. But couldn’t be more proud of the team.”
Unlike Wallace, Reddick hadn’t factored at the front of the 68th running of the Great American Race. The 200-lap affair featured 66 lead changes among a record 26 drivers in the 41-car field.
Elliott moved to the front of the pack after a restart on Lap 197. The Cup Series Most Popular Driver the past eight years, the 30-year-old would have been a celebrated winner..
Instead, Reddick spoiled Elliott’s best chance during 11 attempts.
“At that point you’re on defense. That’s a very tough place to be,” Elliott said. “If I had thrown a double-block on the No. 45, it would have just crashed us. It really sucks to be that close … and not finish it off.”
Reddick, who turned 30 Jan. 11, entered the day an afterthought following a winless 2025 ended a string of three consecutive seasons with at least two victories.
“When you’re a Cup driver and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year,” Reddick said.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/02/15/nascar-daytona-500-2/
