Michael Jordan’s legendary resume includes six NBA championships, six Finals MVP awards, five league MVPs, and two Olympic gold medals. However, he fell short of adding a NASCAR Cup Series title to his achievements on Sunday.
Jordan’s 23XI Racing driver, Tyler Reddick, finished in sixth place in the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, where the four contenders for the 2024 title were battling for the crown. 23XI Racing, a team Jordan co-owns with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, was founded in 2020. The team’s name, pronounced “twenty-three eleven,” pays homage to Jordan’s iconic No. 23 jersey and Hamlin’s No. 11 car. Hamlin, although co-owner of 23XI Racing, drives for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Joey Logano emerged victorious in the race, claiming his third career championship. Logano’s teammate at Team Penske, Ryan Blaney, who was the reigning champion from 2023, finished second. William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports took third. Although not in the championship hunt this year, two drivers eliminated the week before—the 2021 champion Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell—finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Bell had made the Championship 4 for the third consecutive season.
“It was a good year for us,” Reddick said following the race. “We won at the right times, just hoping for a bit more of that magic today, but it wasn’t meant to be.” Even though Reddick finished sixth in the season-ending race, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota will still secure fourth place in the final points standings.
Before the race, Reddick shared how Michael Jordan had influenced his 2024 championship run and what it meant to drive for him.
“The biggest thing for me was just being able to do it for Michael,” Reddick said. “When he talks about racing and basketball, he says they’re different, but the mindset you need as a competitor is similar. He’s shared a lot of valuable insights with us, offering guidance and support whenever he had the chance, and it’s made a real impact on us.”
Reddick also highlighted how Jordan’s presence, even during casual conversations, helped motivate the team.
“Even when we’re just chatting in the hauler before a race, he has this ability to get us all fired up and ready for what’s ahead,” Reddick explained. “You can tell how much he cares about NASCAR. It’s clear in the way he talks about it and in his body language—he’s fully focused and engaged in what’s happening.”
The 28-year-old Reddick secured his first Championship 4 spot after clinching a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October, pulling off an impressive last-lap pass to take the playoff race. Jordan was present to witness the victory, and he was all smiles on pit road as Reddick crossed the finish line, securing what appeared to be an unexpected win in the closing moments.
“Oh, man, he just went for it. He let it all out, and I’m glad he did,” Jordan said. “The kid really drove his heart out… I’m proud of him.”
Along with his win at Homestead, Reddick also triumphed at Talladega Superspeedway in April and Michigan International Speedway in August.