4 Takeaways From Daytona 500 as Tyler Reddick, Michael Jordan Have a good time Large Win

[ad_1] Daytona Worldwide Speedway (Daytona Seashore, Fla.) — When followers and analysts discuss essentially the most proficient NASCAR racers, Tyler Reddick’s title is usually talked about as one of many youthful ones with essentially the most potential.

He turned that potential right into a Daytona 500 victory on Sunday, the most important win of his 9 profession triumphs in 219 profession begins. A victory that snapped a 38-race winless streak that included all of the 2025 season.

With the win, the 30-year-old Reddick — the 2024 regular-season champion — earned the primary Daytona 500 victory for 23XI Racing. The group is co-owned by driver Denny Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan.

"While you're a Cup driver and also you get to this degree and drive for Michael Jordan, it is anticipated you win each single yr," Reddick mentioned in his tv interview after the race. "For us to go on that drought we did made us look onerous within the mirror. And actually happy with everybody."

Listed below are my takeaways:

1. Reddick Outlasts Area

Two Spire Motorsports drivers, Carson Hocevar and Michael McDowell, led the sector into the ultimate lap. Reddick was in a position to get by them after they wrecked one another. He then wanted a push from Riley Herbst to get out entrance and held off the remainder of the sector till the 4 automobiles that adopted him crashed coming to the end line.

He didn’t have to throw a block. However Reddick put himself in place to capitalize.

"Simply unimaginable the way it all performed out," Reddick mentioned in his tv interview after the race. "Simply true Daytona insanity."

Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the NASCAR Cup Collection Daytona 500.

2. Second-Fifth All Wreck

Usually, the drivers who completed second by means of fifth do their post-race interviews in an space put aside on pit highway. However nobody was there as a result of all 4 of these drivers wrecked coming to the end and needed to be evaluated on the infield medical middle.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski had been all launched comparatively shortly.

"It’s by no means dangerous to complete high 5 or runnerup within the Daytona 500," Stenhouse mentioned.

Joey Logano (No. 22), Brad Keselowski (No. 6) and Chase Elliott (No. 9) spin after an on-track incident to finish the NASCAR Cup Collection Daytona 500.

3. Chase Elliott Upset

Elliott was possibly essentially the most disillusioned, as he was main going into Flip 4 earlier than the Reddick push from Herbst.

"I simply hate to be that shut," Elliott mentioned. "It’s such a giant deal down right here. It form of sucks, however that is a part of this deal. ... It’s fairly disappointing. I do not know what else to let you know, aside from we had been main the Daytona 500 off of Flip 4 coming to the checkered flag and we didn’t win."

Elliott mentioned as soon as he misplaced Zane Smith as his pusher, he was out to lunch: "As soon as he was gone, I used to be on whole protection. And it simply turns into actually troublesome to cowl these large runs."

4. Keselowski Leg OK

Brad Keselowski possibly might have received, however he left with a top-five end and the data that he might deal with a wreck simply eight weeks after shearing his proper femur.

He definitely didn’t wish to take a look at his leg’s skill to deal with a crash bt the truth that he might stand exterior the care middle with out his cane and reply questions was a superb signal.

"I felt rather well within the automobile and acquired in a crash on the finish and could not even really feel it," Keselowski informed me and different reporters. "So fairly good. ... I am proud to make it this far. I did not know a couple of weeks in the past, I wasn't certain I used to be going to get to run this race and have a chance to win it. That feels fairly good. Fairly disillusioned to not carry it dwelling."

4 ½. What’s Subsequent

One other drafting monitor awaits the drivers, as they head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second race of the season.

These races usually have last-lap wrecks and NASCAR at Daytona tried to not throw the warning and let the races play out. Atlanta, a 1.5-mile monitor, is likely to be tougher to maneuver security gear with out throwing the warning.

"So long as it is the identical for all races and this weekend, they had been very constant," Hamlin mentioned within the postrace information convention. "So I do not assume anybody ought to have any gripes about that."