Car owner Michael Jordan watches from the pits during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — The hardest hit that Tyler Reddick took at Homestead-Miami Speedway wasn’t just from an unexpected wall bounce or another competitor crashing into him.
It was from his boss, the legendary Michael Jordan.
Jordan, standing at an impressive 6-foot-6, is a striking figure compared to Reddick, who stands around 5-foot-6 at most. When the NBA icon runs toward Reddick full speed, wrapping his enormous arms around the driver, Reddick can definitely expect a jolt. That moment unfolded spectacularly on Sunday when Reddick triumphed at Homestead, securing one of the coveted four spots in NASCAR’s winner-take-all championship showdown set to unfold in Phoenix in two weeks.
“To be able to reward him … it’s a true honor,” Reddick proclaimed, a smile lighting up his face. “It was really cool to see how happy he was. We’re all very happy about it.”
For good reason, as winning continues to fuel Jordan’s passion, even as he approaches his 62nd birthday.
Despite having built an extensive multi-billion-dollar business empire that includes everything from his iconic sneakers and fashionable apparel to gourmet steaks, luxury cars, and golf courses, Jordan’s competitive spirit remains undiminished. This relentless desire to win transcends sports, whether he’s competing against PGA professionals at his lavish golf course—where drinks are delivered by drones—or observing from the pit wall as his 23XI racing team battles it out on the track.
“Yeah, baby! Yes!” Jordan exuberantly shouted as he reached Reddick just moments after the checkered flag waved. “Good job, kid! Man, good job.”
Such praise from Jordan carries immense weight and recognition.
Despite their differences in stature, Reddick and Jordan share some common traits. Jordan was infamous for maintaining his performance even when unwell. Similarly, Reddick secured the regular-season championship this year at Darlington while grappling with a debilitating virus, all while managing the anxiety of possibly becoming ill inside his helmet.
“I think it’s just a combination of talent and resilience,” said crew chief Billy Scott. “When things aren’t going right, I sometimes think he’s in his element. He seems to deal with that really well, stay calm and focused. He has that much talent to fall back on to where even if he has to overcome some sort of disadvantage, whether it’s being sick, tire disadvantage, he’s been able to.”
Sunday’s exhilarating win secured Reddick’s position among the top four competitors for the highly anticipated championship finale. Concerns about whether the 23XI team was sidetracked by off-track issues—specifically, Jordan’s involvement in a lawsuit against NASCAR regarding revenue sharing—were decisively addressed by their performance on the track.
Jordan’s focus has always been unwavering, as he rarely let external matters interfere with his game as a player. Now as the owner of a racing team, he evidently applies the same principles to his approach and leadership.
“We’re here to win races. I think everyone at 23XI is focused on that,” stated Dave Rogers, the competition director for the 23XI team. “Any team that competes for a championship or wins one has to deal with distractions. There’s so many roadblocks in the way, so much noise, so many distractions. If you are going to win a championship, you must fight through adversity. That’s just part of it.
“This is one of those distractions that we’re choosing to ignore and just compete at the highest level we know how.”
The nascent excitement of the second-to-last race of the season at Homestead unfolded with plenty of talking points.
— The race featured a staggering 33 lead changes, culminating in Reddick’s remarkable maneuver past two cars on the last lap, including one driven by Denny Hamlin, who is also part of the 23XI ownership. This moment marked a Homestead record.
— There’s a genuine possibility that none of the Hendrick Motorsports cars will advance to the final four in Phoenix—an almost unimaginable outcome, especially given the stellar performance of that powerhouse team throughout 2024.
— The dramatic climax of playoff races at Homestead surely raises questions about why this iconic venue no longer serves as the season finale.
Yet, the most significant narrative of the day revolved around Reddick and his daring last-minute move that proved to be a game-changer. With Reddick stealing the spotlight, it naturally placed Jordan back in the limelight, as this iconic basketball winner now stands a chance to secure NASCAR’s most prestigious title at a time when he is simultaneously challenging the sport’s governance in court.
“He was just really proud, the fight that we had, never giving up, fighting through the adversity,” Reddick reflected. “Just really, really proud of the effort we put forth. Like I said, he believes in me. He believes in this team.”