Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin's 23XI Racing surges to early NASCAR dominance

The team has won the first two races of the 2026 season, with Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace leading the points standings.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin's 23XI Racing team has burst out of the gate in the 2026 NASCAR season, winning the first two races with Tyler Reddick and emerging as a championship contender. The team has created a vibrant culture and work environment for its employees, celebrating victories with company-wide events and perks. Despite a recent legal battle with NASCAR over revenue sharing, 23XI has continued to grow and make a mark in the sport through innovative marketing and partnerships.

Why it matters

23XI Racing's early success is a testament to the vision and investment of its high-profile owners, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. The team's rapid rise challenges the traditional NASCAR powerhouses and signals a shift in the sport's competitive landscape. Additionally, 23XI's focus on building a strong company culture and engaging with fans in unique ways could set a new standard for how NASCAR teams operate both on and off the track.

The details

Tyler Reddick has won the season-opening Daytona 500 and last weekend's race at Atlanta, while teammate Bubba Wallace has led a combined 86 laps in the two events. The team's headquarters, called Airspeed, features personal touches like a wall display of 45 pairs of Air Jordan sneakers and amenities for employees such as a state-of-the-art gym, physical therapist, and monthly vending machine credits. 23XI overcame a legal battle with NASCAR over revenue sharing, which had put strain on the team, but the owners' commitment to paying employees through 2026 regardless of the outcome allowed the team to stay focused on racing.

  • Tyler Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 18, 2026.
  • Tyler Reddick won the race at Atlanta on February 25, 2026.

The players

Michael Jordan

Pro Basketball Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing.

Denny Hamlin

Three-time Daytona 500 winner and co-owner of 23XI Racing.

Tyler Reddick

Driver for 23XI Racing who has won the first two races of the 2026 NASCAR season.

Bubba Wallace

Driver for 23XI Racing who has led a combined 86 laps in the first two races of the 2026 season.

Steve Lauletta

President of 23XI Racing.

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What they’re saying

“There's no question that we're building fast cars and cars that are capable of winning week in, week out. We don't always hit the setup or things like that, but we're working hard.”

— Denny Hamlin (wptf.com)

“The guys worked hard all summer. I know we had our little ordeal, but they never gave up. They kept working hard, and this is the fruit of their labor. You know, they put forth the effort, and for us to come out and win the first two races says a lot about our whole team.”

— Michael Jordan (wptf.com)

“We want people to go 'That's my team!' We had our partners there giving away prizes and then we won the race. That's the stuff that helps differentiate us and helps these casual sports fan who know who Michael is now know who our team is. We won the race and the place went wild.”

— Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing (wptf.com)

What’s next

The team will look to continue its strong start to the season at the upcoming race at Circuit of the Americas road course in Texas on March 3, 2026.

The takeaway

23XI Racing's early dominance in the 2026 NASCAR season, fueled by the vision and resources of owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, has the potential to reshape the competitive landscape of the sport. The team's focus on building a vibrant company culture and engaging fans in innovative ways could set a new standard for how NASCAR teams operate both on and off the track.