Who won the Daytona 500?

Question

Hans Steiner · Accepted Answer

A last‑turn pass delivers a marquee victory

Tyler Reddick emerged from a chaotic, crash‑filled Daytona 500 to take the checkered flag driving for 23XI Racing, the team co‑owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan. The race’s defining moment came on the final lap when Reddick passed Chase Elliott off the last turn and held on through a wild, contact‑filled finish.

The event unfolded around two big storylines: a large midrace pileup and a frenetic closing sequence. An early “Big One” wreck collected roughly 20 cars and reshaped the running order, while the final lap saw leaders collide in the closing seconds, handing Reddick a chance he seized. Notably, Reddick led only a single lap—the one he needed to win—underscoring how survival, timing and positioning matter as much as raw pace at Daytona.

Why the win matters

For 23XI Racing: The victory gives immediate validation to a high‑profile operation and puts team ownership back in the sport’s spotlight.
For Reddick: Winning motorsport’s most prestigious race elevates his profile and changes the expectations for his season.
For NASCAR: A finish that dramatic drives headlines and interest, though it also raised questions about the wreck that removed many contenders.

Michael Jordan’s presence and celebration afterward amplified the story’s crossover appeal, and the result reshuffles early championship points and momentum as the NASCAR season begins its long run toward the title.