NASCAR race: Reddick wins again for Jordan’s 23XI

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The latest NASCAR race delivered high drama on Sunday as Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing claimed its second consecutive win of the new season.

Driver Tyler Reddick secured victory at Echo Park Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, just one week after triumphing at the iconic Daytona 500.

The win matters because it puts Jordan’s team at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series standings early in the 2026 campaign, strengthening its position both on the track and commercially.

British motorsport fans following stock-car racing will note this is the strongest start yet for the NBA legend’s team since entering the sport in 2021.

How did Tyler Reddick win this NASCAR race?

Reddick produced a standout drive in a race packed with tension and chaos.

He led a race-high 53 laps on the 1.54-mile oval.
The race featured a track-record 57 lead changes.
A nine-car crash on lap 224 damaged Reddick’s right-front fender.
He briefly dropped two laps down for repairs.
He stormed back from 27th place to take the lead in double overtime.

Despite visible damage to his No. 45 Toyota, Reddick overtook teammate Bubba Wallace on the final restart and held firm over the closing two laps.

Back-to-back dubs!!! ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/bPdZX05XSe

— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) February 23, 2026

Speaking after the race, Reddick said: “I mean, that’s crazy, ain’t it? I just found a way to get back in the top five, and I tried to stay committed to somebody.”

The victory marks his 10th career Cup Series win. He also became the first driver since 2009 to win the opening two races of a NASCAR Cup Series season.

Why is this start significant for Michael Jordan’s team?

For UK readers less familiar with American stock-car racing, 23XI Racing is co-owned by Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.

The team only began competing full-time in 2021, making this rapid rise notable.

Jordan celebrated in victory lane for the second straight Sunday. Reflecting on the team’s recent legal and competitive journey, he said: “They kept working hard, and this is the fruit of their labour.

For us to come out and win the first two races says a lot about our whole team.”

In December, Jordan settled a federal antitrust lawsuit with NASCAR. The agreement secured a long-term franchise-style structure, providing financial stability for teams such as 23XI Racing.

That off-track certainty now appears to be translating into on-track success.

At present, 23XI holds the top two spots in the Cup Series points standings, with Reddick and Wallace leading the way.

What happened to Bubba Wallace in the closing laps?

Wallace delivered a strong performance throughout the NASCAR race.

He led 46 laps.
He won Stage Two.
He scored 48 points, the second-highest haul of the day.

However, he lost momentum on the final restart and slipped to eighth place by the chequered flag.

Ross Chastain finished third, while Chase Briscoe pushed Reddick during the decisive sprint. Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez rounded out the top five.

Chastain admitted after the race: “Tyler had like another gear. No fender, and he pulled us so fast.”