23XI Racing Emerges as NASCAR's Potential New Powerhouse

The upstart team is quickly challenging the sport's elite organizations with a string of recent victories.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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In just six seasons, 23XI Racing has emerged as a serious contender in NASCAR Cup racing, with drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace combining for 11 victories. The team's rapid growth and success has some wondering if it could soon join the sport's traditional 'Big Three' teams - Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske - to form a new 'Big Four'.

Why it matters

23XI Racing's rise represents a significant shift in the competitive landscape of NASCAR. As a relatively new team, its ability to challenge the sport's established powerhouses underscores the potential for new organizations to disrupt the status quo and reshape the competitive dynamics of the sport.

The details

In just its sixth season, 23XI Racing has already amassed 11 Cup Series victories, with Reddick accounting for 7 wins and Wallace contributing 3. In comparison, at the same point in their respective sixth seasons, Hendrick Motorsports had 20 wins, Joe Gibbs Racing had 7, and Team Penske had 21. The team's rapid growth has been aided by its state-of-the-art 114,000-square-foot facility in Huntersville, North Carolina, which it moved into after just three full seasons in the Cup Series.

  • 23XI Racing made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2021.
  • The team moved into its new 114,000-square-foot headquarters in Huntersville, North Carolina in early 2024, after just three full seasons in the Cup Series.
  • Through the first two races of the 2026 season, 23XI Racing has already accumulated 11 Cup Series victories.

The players

23XI Racing

A NASCAR Cup Series team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, which has quickly emerged as a serious contender in the sport.

Tyler Reddick

A driver for 23XI Racing who has won 7 of the team's 11 Cup Series victories.

Bubba Wallace

A driver for 23XI Racing who has won 3 of the team's 11 Cup Series victories, including the prestigious Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

Denny Hamlin

The co-owner of 23XI Racing and a veteran NASCAR driver.

Michael Jordan

The co-owner of 23XI Racing and NBA legend.

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What’s next

If 23XI Racing continues its current trajectory, it could solidify its status as part of NASCAR's 'Big Four' teams by the end of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

23XI Racing's rapid rise from a new team to a legitimate championship contender in just six seasons underscores the potential for new organizations to disrupt the traditional power structures in NASCAR. The team's success serves as an inspiration for other upstart teams looking to challenge the sport's elite.