Michael Jordan Receives Daytona 500 Ring
Former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan received his Daytona 500 ring after his 23XI Racing driver, Tyler Reddick, secured victory. Jordan's presence at the event marked a notable crossover moment between the worlds of basketball and motorsports.
- Michael Jordan is the majority owner of 23XI Racing, with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin holding a minority stake. The team name combines Jordan's iconic number 23 and the number 11 from Hamlin's own race car. - This victory marks the first Daytona 500 win for 23XI Racing since its founding in 2021. The team's first-ever win came in October 2021 at Talladega, with Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 car. - Tyler Reddick's win was dramatic, as he led only the final lap of the race—the fourth time this has occurred in Daytona 500 history. The race set a new record with 25 different leaders. - The win was a valuable birthday present for Jordan, who turned 63 two days after the race. In victory lane, he mentioned he wears a size 13 ring. - Owning a top-tier NASCAR team can cost over $15 million annually. Jordan's initial investment in 23XI Racing in 2020 was reportedly around $150 million. - Beyond racing, Jordan's business portfolio includes his iconic Jordan Brand, which generates over $4 billion in annual sales, an exclusive golf course in Florida named Grove XXIII, and co-ownership of Cincoro Tequila. - The victory came after 23XI Racing, along with Front Row Motorsports, settled a federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR in December 2025. The settlement resulted in a new revenue-sharing model and permanent team charters, which function like franchises and have seen their value increase significantly. - All three of 23XI Racing's full-time cars finished in the top ten at the 2026 Daytona 500, with Bubba Wallace finishing 10th and Riley Herbst in 8th.
