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A Finish Packed with Drama (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Daytona Beach, Florida – Tyler Reddick seized victory in the 68th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, navigating a chaotic final lap to claim his first win in NASCAR’s marquee event.[1][2]
A Finish Packed with Drama
Reddick held his nerve as multiple wrecks erupted behind him in the closing moments. He surged past Chase Elliott down the backstretch, timing his move perfectly out of turn four. Carson Hocevar spun just after the white flag, setting the stage for the frenzy. Riley Herbst’s attempted block on Brad Keselowski triggered more mayhem near the finish line. Reddick crossed first by 0.308 seconds over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.[3][4]
The No. 45 Toyota from 23XI Racing stayed unscathed amid the smoke and sliding cars. Joey Logano held third, with Elliott and Keselowski rounding out the top five despite the carnage. Officials reviewed the finish but confirmed Reddick’s triumph. Fans at Daytona International Speedway erupted as he took the Harley J. Earl Trophy.[3]
Reddick Bounces Back Strong
Coming off a winless 2025 season, Reddick described the struggle in victory lane. “Last year was really hard for all of us, hard for me,” he said. This marked his ninth Cup Series victory and first since 2024 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.[5][6]
Started 26th, he methodically worked through the pack during the 200-lap race. Crew chief Billy Scott called the key strategies that kept him in contention. Teammate Denny Hamlin praised the effort in post-race comments. Reddick now leads early Cup Series points.[7]
Michael Jordan Joins the Celebration
Team co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits as Reddick delivered 23XI Racing’s first Daytona 500 win. The NBA legend shared a jubilant moment in victory lane, calling it a “slam-dunk.” Jordan, who co-owns with Denny Hamlin, gets a winner’s ring for his upcoming birthday.[8][9]
23XI placed three cars in the top 10, underscoring their growing strength. Jordan’s involvement since entering NASCAR in 2021 has elevated the team. Reddick savored the shared glory with his high-profile boss.[10]
Race Results at a Glance
| Position | Driver | Car No. | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing (Toyota) |
| 2 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | Chevrolet |
| 3 | Joey Logano | 22 | Ford |
| 4 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Ford |
Stenhouse sought a repeat of his 2023 win but fell short. Logano started strong as a Duel winner. Elliott came agonizingly close to his first 500 victory.[2][11]
- Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing took pole position.
- The race featured multiple cautions, including late-stage pileups.
- Reddick led key laps in the final stint.
- 23XI’s Bubba Wallace and others contributed to the team’s strong showing.
- NASCAR set a record for lap leaders in this edition.
Key Takeaways
- Reddick’s win ends 23XI’s Daytona drought and boosts Michael Jordan’s racing portfolio.
- Final-lap wrecks decided the outcome, rewarding patience over aggression.
- After 2025 struggles, Reddick emerges as a Cup contender for 2026.
Tyler Reddick’s poise under pressure transformed potential disaster into Daytona glory, signaling big things ahead for him and 23XI Racing. What do you think about this wild finish? Tell us in the comments.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Fritz is the managing director of Europe’s largest manufacturer of mobile stages Kultour and has a lot of experience in the event industry, loves music and likes to go to festivals.
