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23XI Racing Delivers Perfect Start to Season Under Jordan-Hamlin Partnership
Michael Jordan's NASCAR team co-owned with Denny Hamlin has won the first three races of 2026 with driver Tyler Reddick.
Mar. 2, 2026 at 1:28pm
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Michael Jordan's 23XI NASCAR racing team, co-owned with Denny Hamlin, has gotten off to a perfect start in the 2026 season. Driver Tyler Reddick has won the first three races, including the season-opening Daytona 500 and the recent race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Jordan and Hamlin have praised each other's roles in building the successful team, with Hamlin credited as the 'mastermind' behind the operation.
Why it matters
The strong start for 23XI Racing, which Jordan and Hamlin launched with a federal antitrust lawsuit to secure a permanent franchise model, demonstrates the power of their 'perfect partnership' in building a competitive NASCAR team from the ground up. Reddick's early dominance has put the team on a historic pace and made them an early favorite for the Cup Series championship.
The details
In the most recent race at the Circuit of the Americas, Reddick started from the pole position and held off a hard-charging Shane van Gisbergen for the victory. Jordan was seen celebrating with the pit crew after the win, exchanging high-fives and hugs. Reddick said Jordan reminded him last week that he 'does things in threes,' referring to his NBA championship clusters with the Chicago Bulls, and Reddick was 'glad to live up to that standard' by winning the first three races.
- Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500 in February 2026.
- Reddick won the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in late February 2026.
- Reddick won the race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 2, 2026.
The players
Michael Jordan
A basketball Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion who is the co-owner of the 23XI NASCAR racing team.
Denny Hamlin
The 'mastermind' behind the 23XI NASCAR racing team and co-owner with Michael Jordan.
Tyler Reddick
The driver for the 23XI NASCAR racing team who has won the first three races of the 2026 season.
Shane van Gisbergen
The driver who finished second to Tyler Reddick at the Circuit of the Americas race.
What they’re saying
“He's the mastermind. I just put up the money. Denny's done an incredible job building this team.”
— Michael Jordan
“It's a perfect partnership. This doesn't work out if he doesn't give me a lot of autonomy.”
— Denny Hamlin
“What a dream start for those guys.”
— Denny Hamlin
“I was really glad to live up to that standard.”
— Tyler Reddick
What’s next
Jordan said he plans to attend the next race in Phoenix to continue celebrating the team's early success.
The takeaway
The strong partnership between Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin has allowed them to build a NASCAR powerhouse from scratch, with driver Tyler Reddick delivering a historic start to the 2026 season that has the 23XI team firmly in the championship hunt.
