2 weeks Ago By Matthew Neschis
Michael Jordan could hardly contain his excitement after watching Tyler Reddick pull off a miraculous win in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8. As the No. 45 coasted down victory lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway - thereby automatically advancing to the Championship 4 - the 23XI co-owner and NBA legend high-fived team members while donning a smile from cheek-to-cheek.
Reddick’s victory in the Straight Talk Wireless 400 would have never come to fruition if it weren’t for an incredibly bold call made by the 23XI team. On the heels of Justin Haley’s second spinout of the afternoon, six of the top seven running drivers who were all in the playoffs and had yet to lock in their spot in the Championship 4 - including Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron - opted to pit with 60 laps remaining. But Reddick opted to try his luck and stayed out on track even though he did not have enough fuel to make it through the remainder of the race.
The longshot yellow he was holding out hope for came shortly after he pitted courtesy of Larson, who spun out with 12 laps left while attempting to pass Blaney for the lead. NASCAR star to remain in hospital overnight after car engulfed in flames 'I'm a NASCAR racing legend and this is not the Denny Hamlin we know' On the final restart, Hamlin assumed the lead, running wheel-to-wheel in a four-wide with Reddick, Blaney, and Elliott. The 23XI Racing driver eventually pulled off an incredible last-lap pass to finish 0.
241 seconds ahead of the next-closest car and punch his ticket to Arizona. Jordan was asked by NBC if it was a Game 7 moment from Reddick, to which he replied: "Actually, [it was a Game 7 moment from] everybody. Billy made a call and it looked a little scary because we've been running out of gas.
We knew we needed a caution at the end and anything can happen after that. As you can see Denny was up there, and the little kid drove his --- off. I'm proud of him.
" Asked for his thoughts on the final lap, Jordan said: "He just let go. He just went for it, and I'm glad. We needed it.
We needed it." Jordan made sure to give Reddick a huge hug after his sensational win before shouting: "Yeah baby! Yeah! Good job kid!" Before that moment, the driver shared his feelings to NBC. He said: "We were backed in the corner, man.
We had no other choice [but to go for the win]," he said moments after coasting down victory lane. "I know we were on a tire deficit, and here at Homestead that's a death sentence, but I don't care. We did what it took to win this race.
We're fighting for a championship." DON'T MISS: Kyle Larson interrupts reporter after being questioned about 'aggression' Gregg Popovich goes nuclear in Donald Trump rant with Kamala Harris point Donald Trump to be joined by NFL icon at rally after 'I hate Taylor Swift' remark 23XI’s accomplishment is all the more impressive considering the team didn’t even exist just four years ago. Back in 2020, Jordan founded the team alongside Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and longtime business partner Curtis Polk.
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