Michael Jordan, six-time NBA champion, is now a Daytona 500 winner : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4550x3034+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F55%2Fa3%2F46b5536d48e69474195612245fcf%2Fap26046847635795.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4550x3034+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F55%2Fa3%2F46b5536d48e69474195612245fcf%2Fap26046847635795.jpg" class="img" alt="23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan speaks with CEO and Chairman of NASCAR, Jim Frantz after Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla." fetchpriority="high"/> 23XI Racing proprietor Michael Jordan speaks with CEO and Chairman of NASCAR, Jim Frantz after Tyler Reddick received the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Seashore, Fla. Nigel Prepare dinner/AP disguise caption

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Nigel Prepare dinner/AP DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Michael Jordan, six-time NBA champion, is now a Daytona 500 winner, too.

Tyler Reddick received "The Nice American Race" on Sunday with a last-lap move at Daytona Worldwide Speedway that despatched Jordan right into a frantic celebration. The NBA Corridor of Famer bear-hugged Reddick in victory lane after which collectively hoisted the Harley J. Earl trophy with the 23XI Racing driver.

Jordan, who turns 63 on Tuesday, will get a Daytona 500 ring for his birthday and made it recognized in victory lane he wears a dimension 13.

"It seems like I received a championship, however till I get my ring, I will not even know," Jordan mentioned.

The second captured the message group co-owner Denny Hamlin — who completed thirty first in Sunday's bid to turn out to be the third driver in historical past to win 4 Daytona 500s — delivered to 23XI staff in a group assembly forward of NASCAR's season opener.

"He loves his race group," Hamlin mentioned, including he reminded the group of the success they noticed in Jordan when Reddick received at Talladega in 2024. "I used to be like 'You recognize, you guys perceive the tasks you might have, that you've the facility to carry pleasure to Michael Jordan. You could have that energy and no one else can do it.'

"There's nothing else that may carry him the enjoyment that seeing what his group can do they usually took it to coronary heart."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3492x2329+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff3%2Ff7%2Fff85acfc4bb9963514b12f4d194f%2Fap26046833842989.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3492x2329+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff3%2Ff7%2Fff85acfc4bb9963514b12f4d194f%2Fap26046833842989.jpg" class="img" alt="Tyler Reddick, (45) and his son Beau celebrate with the team after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla." loading="lazy"/> Tyler Reddick, (45) and his son Beau rejoice with the group after profitable the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Seashore, Fla. Mike Stewart/AP disguise caption

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Mike Stewart/AP Reddick, in a Toyota, led just one lap Sunday: the one to the checkered flag. He was the twenty fifth totally different driver to steer a lap for a brand new Daytona 500 file.

"Simply unbelievable the way it all performed out. Simply true Daytona insanity," Reddick mentioned. "I've already misplaced my voice from screaming. By no means thought I might be Daytona 500 champion."

Reddick, a 30-year-old from Corning, California, received for the ninth time within the Cup Sequence and first time since late within the 2024 season. Winless final 12 months, Reddick was primarily targeted on his toddler son, who was discovered to have a tumor in his chest that affected his coronary heart. Reddick opened final 12 months with a runner-up end within the Daytona 500.

He snapped the 38-race dropping streak by ending one place larger Sunday and profitable to begin a celebration that included a number of stars of NASCAR. It included Jordan, a world icon, and Hamlin, at 45 the oldest full-time driver within the Cup Sequence.

Reddick is teammates with Bubba Wallace, who went to victory lane in tears after main a race-high 40 laps earlier than ending tenth. Jordan wrapped his arms round Wallace from behind and spoke carefully into Wallace's ear in a short speech of encouragement.

"I do not need my feelings to remove from the monumental day they simply completed. Comfortable birthday, MJ. That is an enormous birthday current," Wallace mentioned. "I believed this was our week, the most effective 500 I've ever had, and are available up quick, sucks.

"Led a variety of laps, lap chief, I consider. It was day for us, however rattling. Strive once more subsequent 12 months."

Hamlin, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, was concerned within the remaining warning when he and teammate Christopher Bell collided with 9 laps remaining. It arrange the ultimate push to the end over the ultimate 4 laps.

Elliott grabbed the lead at the beginning of the ultimate lap when Carson Hocevar was spun off the monitor. Reddick made an enormous surge with an help from teammate Riley Herbst, made contact with Elliott that brought about Elliott to crash, then sailed previous to offer Jordan a victory in NASCAR's largest occasion of the 12 months.

"It is stuff you dream of as a child," mentioned Reddick. "Now, I undoubtedly did not look into the long run and know that I might drive for Michael Jordan. However to have the ability to have somebody like Michael Jordan consider in me sufficient, somebody like Denny Hamlin.

"I am simply attempting to do my finest to stay on the guarantees that I made to them and vice versa."

Jordan was the face of the December federal antitrust lawsuit that NASCAR settled on the ninth day of trial. The settlement modified the revenue-sharing mannequin in the USA' high motorsports collection.

Jordan watched the win from a set overlooking the superspeedway constructed by the France household — NASCAR founders and personal house owners — that he simply beat in federal court docket. NASCAR chairman Jim France, who was personally a defendant within the go well with, went to victory lane to congratulate the winners.

"I am unable to even consider it. It was so gratifying," Jordan mentioned of the victory. "You by no means know the way these races are going to finish. You simply attempt to survive. We hung in there all day. Nice technique by the group, and we gave ourselves an opportunity on the finish. Look, I am ecstatic."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6622x4415+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2F20%2F932392374a18b41f3ddebca27301%2Fap26046841828130.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6622x4415+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2F20%2F932392374a18b41f3ddebca27301%2Fap26046841828130.jpg" class="img" alt="Cars crash on the checkered flag during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla." loading="lazy"/> Vehicles crash on the checkered flag in the course of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Daytona Seashore, Fla. John Raoux/AP disguise caption

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John Raoux/AP The victory marked a Daytona sweep for 3 group house owners closely concerned within the trial. Bob Jenkins, who joined 23XI in suing NASCAR, opened the weekend with a victory when Chandler Smith received the Truck Sequence opener on Friday evening for Entrance Row Motorsports.

Richard Childress, who testified on behalf of 23XI and Entrance Row and was the topic of disparaging textual content messages by since-departed NASCAR chairman Steve Phelps, was the profitable group proprietor Saturday when Austin Hill received.

Then it was time for Jordan and Hamlin, the 2 front-facing litigants, as they obtained their first Daytona 500 victory collectively.

"All we do is win," shrugged Hamlin, who referred to as the trio of weekend winners "coincidence."

Former race winners Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano completed second and third as Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford every positioned a driver on the rostrum. Elliott wound up fourth and sat dejected and in disbelief on the skin wall of the monitor after climbing from his automotive.

"We ended up sort of getting gifted the lead ... after which at that cut-off date, you are simply on protection. Man, that is a very, actually robust place to be, in truth," Elliott mentioned. "Clearly wanting again, you possibly can run it by way of your thoughts 1,000 occasions, do you do one thing totally different?"