How did Tyler Reddick win the Daytona 500?

Last‑lap pass and chaos handed 23XI its biggest victory

A single decisive sequence on the final lap produced the winner. As the race came down to the closing corners, Tyler Reddick slipped past Chase Elliott coming out of Turn 4 and crossed the line ahead while a multicar wreck erupted behind them. That crash eliminated Elliott’s bid and left Reddick — who led only that one lap — in victory lane.

What changed the outcome:

• A perfectly timed move off the final turn that put Reddick clear of his chief rival.
• A wreck behind the leaders that removed immediate challengers and prevented a last‑second counterattack.
• Support from 23XI Racing teammates during the run; teammates and owner engagement played a strategic role in the closing moments.

The win was notable for more than the finish. The race featured unusually high churn up front — one report noted a Daytona 500 record for number of different leaders — and a dramatic mid‑race “Big One” that wiped out a large part of the field earlier. Despite that carnage, 23XI Racing left Daytona with a statement: Reddick’s No. 45 car delivered the team’s first Daytona 500 victory, putting team co‑owner Michael Jordan in the spotlight in a sport he’s invested heavily in.

Why it matters

This is a career‑defining victory for Reddick and a landmark moment for 23XI Racing. Winning the Great American Race boosts championship aspirations and raises expectations for the rest of the season. For NASCAR, the chaotic, last‑lap finish produced the kind of unpredictable drama that fuels attention and debate among fans and media. For 23XI, the result validates the team-building approach and gives momentum to an ownership group that now holds one of the sport’s most prestigious trophies.