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Michael Jordan has won his seventh title, or at least that’s how he’s feeling after Tyler Reddick’s Daytona 500 victory.
Reddick was able to outlast multiple crashes on the final lap of Sunday’s 2026 Daytona 500, driving by Chase Elliott at the end to give Jordan’s 23XI Racing its first victory in the “Great American Race.” Following the race, Jordan compared the victory to winning an NBA championship.
“I’m ecstatic. I don’t even know what to say,” the six-time NBA champion told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little. “It feels like I won a championship. But until I get my ring, I won’t even know.”
Reddick’s victory came after a trying 2025 season for the driver and Jordan’s 23XI Racing. Reddick didn’t win a single race last season, while 23XI Racing was stuck in a legal battle with NASCAR over a lawsuit that was eventually settled in December.
‘It feels like I won a championship’ 🏆 Michael Jordan on Tyler Reddick’s Dayton 500 Win
[REDDICK’S VICTORY Tyler Reddick Gives Michael Jordan, 23XI Monumental Win]
With the lawsuit behind 23XI Racing, the staff wound up having a powerful day to open the 2026 season on Sunday. Bubba Wallace led the race for 40 laps, claiming victory for Stage 2. He in the end completed in tenth.
It was a special driver for 23XI Racing who wound up securing the victory for Reddick. After Reddick moved from fourth to first on the ultimate lap, Riley Herbst triggered some chaos to forestall Chase Elliott from re-taking the lead.
Herbst wound up ending in eighth, however Jordan needed to verify he obtained his due for serving to Reddick get the victory.
“I believed Riley did a very unbelievable job by pushing on the finish,” Jordan mentioned. “That reveals you what teamwork can actually, actually do. He will not get sufficient credit score, however we really feel the love. We perceive precisely what he did. We simply hung in there, all day. We had a fantastic technique by the staff and we gave ourselves an opportunity on the finish.”
In Wallace’s post-race interview with FOX Sports activities, he expressed some disappointment in himself for shedding the lead. However he additionally gave credit score to Reddick, Jordan and the remainder of their staff for prevailing on Sunday.
“I am unable to even consider it. It was so gratifying,” Jordan added. “We had 4 guys that had been actually combating, that had been serving to one another out. You by no means know the way these races are going to finish. You are simply attempting to outlive.”
As for that ring Jordan desires for being the proprietor of the staff that received the Daytona 500, Little requested him what his ring measurement is.
“Dimension 13,” Jordan mentioned, smiling as he now anticipates getting his seventh title ring.
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