Former NASCAR Cup driver Kenny Wallace has called 23XI Racing team owner Michael Jordan a growing force that lifts the sport. On Sunday, the team’s No. 45 Toyota driver, Tyler Reddick won the second NASCAR Cup Series race in a row to open the 2026 season.
Reddick dominated much of the race after starting from pole pos, bouncing back after falling several laps down to drive all the way back to the lead and took the checkered flag at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. His win came a week after he won the prestigious Daytona 500.
After the race, Wallace pointed to Jordan’s involvement drawing attention to NASCAR from wider audiences. On his Coffee with Kenny podcast, he commented on the NBA legend’s interview with Jamie Little.
“Have you noticed Michael Jordan is not quiet anymore? … Michael Jordan is happy to do an interview with her because they know Michael knows that she’s going to be fair,” Kenny wallace said (5:44 onwards).
Wallace also told a story about seeing Jordan’s jet at the track and shared that a young fan didn’t realize Jordan owned a NASCAR team.
“Michael Jordan interviews reminding the world that I own a NASCAR team. So, in a wild way, Michael Jordan is saving NASCAR,” he added.
23XI, co-owned by Jordan and NASCAR Cup veteran Denny Hamlin, debuted in 2021 and notched its first NASCAR Cup win the same year in October. Last year, Bubba Wallace won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the team’s first crown-jewel win ahead of Reddick’s Daytona 500 triumph.
“I’m Very Happy For Tyler” – Michael Jordan After Two NASCAR Cup Wins In Two Weeks
23XI Racing endured a rough 2025 after it and NASCAR clashed in court over the charter system. The teams fought the antitrust case and, for a stretch, ran as open entries after losing charter status midseason. That legal fight cost money and stability for the team before the trial ended with a December settlement that restored charters and changed some charter rules.
With that behind them, the team opened 2026 in strong fashion. Michael Jordan celebrated Tyler Reddick’s back-to-back wins but also mentioned feeling bad for 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace, who ended the race in eighth place.
“Holy mackerel. … Tyler did an unbelievable job. The whole team did an unbelievable job. Look, I wanted [Reddick] to win. I feel bad for Bubba, obviously, because he had an unbelievable day. But Tyler drove his a** off, and I’m very happy for Tyler,” Jordan told Fox Sports’ Jamie Little.
The NASCAR Cup Series third race of the 2026 season is scheduled for this Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas.
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