Michael Jordan keeps low profile as 23XI Racing celebrates back to back NASCAR Cup Series victories at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton Georgia

A week after the internet lit up with debate, Michael Jordan decided to let the engines — not the cameras — do the talking.

On Sunday night, as 23XI Racing celebrated back-to-back wins to open the NASCAR season, Jordan wasn’t front and center in the victory photos.

The NBA legend embraced his driver at the finish line, but when the big team shots were snapped, he was noticeably absent.

Whether that was deliberate or just timing is anyone’s guess.

What’s clear is this: his team is suddenly the one everyone in the garage is chasing.

The Daytona Moment That Sparked a Debate

The buzz started a week earlier at the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s crown jewel.

Driver Tyler Reddick pulled off a dramatic last-lap move to win the Great American Race in a car owned by Jordan.

It was the kind of Hollywood finish you can’t script — chaos on the final lap, cars spinning, and Reddick emerging out front to claim his first Daytona 500 trophy.

But as confetti fell and families flooded Victory Lane, social media zeroed in on a brief clip.

Jordan appeared to reach toward Reddick’s six-year-old son, Beau, during the celebration. Some online critics questioned the gesture.

Others quickly defended him, suggesting he was brushing ice out of the child’s shirt after the traditional Gatorade-style dousing that comes with a Daytona win.

The clip went viral. Opinions followed.

And suddenly, what should have been a pure celebration turned into a weeklong debate.

Reddick Speaks Out

Rather than let speculation swirl, Reddick addressed it directly during an appearance with Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM.

He made it clear he didn’t share the online outrage.

Reddick explained that he’s come to know Jordan and his family well during his time at 23XI Racing.

From his perspective, the moment was about shared joy — about the biggest win of his career and the emotion that comes with it.

He even mentioned the smile on Yvette Prieto’s face in Victory Lane, describing an atmosphere filled with pride and happiness.

For Reddick, that’s where the story ends.

Another Thriller at Echo Park Speedway

If anyone thought the off-track chatter might distract the team, Sunday’s race answered that loudly.

At EchoPark Speedway — the 1.54-mile oval south of Atlanta — Reddick delivered again. This wasn’t a lucky last-lap steal.

He dominated stretches of the race, leading a race-high 53 laps.

And yet, it still wasn’t easy.

A nine-car pileup on lap 224 damaged the right-front fender of his No. 45 Toyota.

Reddick fell two laps down while repairs were made. Most drivers would have written off the night.

Instead, he clawed his way from 27th back into contention, forcing a double-overtime restart and ultimately snatching the lead — even from his own teammate, Bubba Wallace — in the closing laps.

It marked his 10th career Cup Series win and made him the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2009 to win the first two races of a NASCAR Cup season.

“I mean, that’s crazy, ain’t it?” Reddick said afterward, still sounding like someone processing it all in real time.

Jordan’s Focus Stays on the Bigger Picture

Jordan did speak briefly after the win, referencing the “little ordeal” his team endured — a nod to the legal dispute that ended with him reaching a resolution with NASCAR leadership, including CEO Jim France.

That case, which centered on charter agreements and revenue structure, was bruising.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin had pushed for fairer financial terms for teams, reflecting broader tensions in NASCAR over long-term sustainability.

The settlement appeared to calm those waters, at least for now.

“The guys worked hard all summer,” Jordan said. “This is the fruit of their labor.”

Classic Jordan. Competitive. Direct. Team-first.

23XI Racing Suddenly Sets the Pace

Lost in the noise is a simple fact: 23XI Racing is rolling.

After Sunday’s race, Reddick and Wallace sit first and second in the Cup Series standings.

For a team founded in 2020 — born from a partnership between Jordan and Hamlin — that’s remarkable growth in a short time.

Jordan’s entry into NASCAR wasn’t a vanity project.

He became the first Black majority owner of a full-time Cup Series team in decades, bringing new sponsors, new fans, and new attention to the sport.

Wallace’s presence, especially during NASCAR’s cultural reckoning in 2020, amplified that spotlight.

Now, the results are catching up to the ambition.

What’s Next?

The NASCAR calendar doesn’t slow down.

The Cup Series heads west next, where momentum can either snowball or evaporate in a hurry.

For Reddick, the goal shifts from winning races to sustaining a championship push.

Back-to-back victories are rare. Turning that into a title run is rarer still.

For Jordan, the priority seems clear: keep the focus on racing.

The less said about last week’s controversy, the better.

Winning has a way of drowning out noise — and right now, 23XI is making plenty of it.

If the team continues this form, conversations will center less on viral clips and more on whether this is the year Jordan adds a NASCAR championship to his six NBA rings.

Summary

By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR

Michael Jordan kept a relatively low profile as 23XI Racing celebrated a second straight NASCAR Cup Series victory, one week after a viral Daytona 500 celebration sparked online debate.

Tyler Reddick defended Jordan publicly, dismissing criticism and emphasizing the joy of the moment.

On the track, Reddick backed up his Daytona triumph with another dramatic win at EchoPark Speedway, becoming the first driver since 2009 to win the season’s opening two races.

With Reddick and Bubba Wallace now leading the standings, 23XI Racing has emerged as an early championship contender while Jordan appears focused firmly on results rather than headlines.