WATCH: Michael Jordan hugs Tyler Reddick in joy after 23XI driver’s stunning win at Miami
Following Tyler Reddick’s win at the Homestead-Miami race, Michael Jordan hugged the driver during a post-race interview. Jordan commended Reddick for his excellenty performance, which secured his spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4.
Reddick is a 28-year-old California native who has driven the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing since the 2023 season. The team is co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user @YaBoyTBall_, Michael Jordan embraced Reddick after his victory.
“Yeah, baby, yeah! Good job kid. Man, good job,” Jordan said.
The Straight Talk Wireless 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway witnessed Reddick taking victory after securing the pole position in Saturday’s qualifying.
The No. 45 Toyota driver was running third when he crossed the white flag behind Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin. He went to the bottom to pass Hamlin before moving to the top to overtake Blaney for the win. Blaney finished in second followed by Hamlin.
Fellow playoff drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott rounded up the top five, with William Byron crossing the checkered flag in sixth.
The Homestead-Miami race win marked Reddick’s eighth victory in the premier series. But more importantly, the win helped him secure a spot in the Championship 4. The season finale at Phoenix Raceway will be the driver’s first shot to win a Cup Series championship title.
But first, the driver will make a stop at Martinsville Speedway for the third and final race of the Round of 8. It is scheduled for November 3, before the Cup Series Championship race on November 10.
“Little kid drove his *ss off” – Michael Jordan applauds Tyler Reddick for the Homestead-Miami win
Michael Jordan applauded Tyler Reddick for winning the Homestead-Miami race. He acknowledged that the late-race caution played a pivotal role in securing the win and the No. 45 team's spot in the Championship 4.
Speaking with NBC Sports, Michael Jordan said:
"We knew we needed a caution and anything can happen after that. Little kid drove his *ss off [...] He went for it. We needed this."
Tyler Reddick made a bold pit stop from the lead on lap 252. Just three laps later, a caution flag flew due to Kyle Larson's spin, forcing all lead cars except Reddick to pit. This put Reddick back in the lead.
Ryan Blaney overtook Reddick on the penultimate lap before the latter driver got back to the front on the last lap to win the race.
Following the Homestead-Miami race, Reddick leads the playoff standings ahead of fellow Championship 4 contender Joey Logano. Christopher Bell and William Byron are the Round of 8 drivers currently above the elimination cutline.
Reddick surpassed Kyle Larson in the playoff standings, placing Larson 5th and 7 points below the elimination cutline. Larson joins Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott as drivers on the brink of elimination.