Tyler Reddick captured major attention on Monday Night WWE Raw by arriving in the arena with his Daytona 500-winning car, performing burnouts that thrilled the crowd. His appearance highlighted a remarkable start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season as he and his teammate Bubba Wallace pushed their Michael Jordan-owned team to a historic 1-2 standing in the championship race.
Reddick’s success marks a rare achievement, as his team won the first two races of the season—a milestone last reached 17 years ago by Matt Kenseth. This victory in the Daytona 500 also elevated Reddick to become the 67th driver in NASCAR history with 10 or more career wins.
Strong Performances Place Michael Jordan’s Team at the Top of Standings
In addition to Reddick’s dramatic win, Bubba Wallace showcased strong performances by capturing stage victories and securing top-10 finishes in both early season events. This impressive teamwork has positioned Jordan’s outfit as an early favorite for the championship, benefiting from one of the sport’s best season starts in recent memory.
Reddick clinched the Daytona 500 by overtaking competitors in the final lap, adding excitement to his breakthrough moment. WWE Raw amplified the victory, featuring Reddick’s entrance alongside World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, branding the occasion as a stunning crossover between motorsport and professional wrestling.
“The WINNER of the Daytona 500 @tyler_reddick arrives in style with the WrestleMania Title! 😤 AND is joined by World Heavyweight Champion @CMPunk!”
Michael Jordan Praises Team Efforts After Back-to-Back Wins
Michael Jordan expressed his enthusiasm and pride following the back-to-back victories achieved by his racing teams. Speaking from Atlanta, Jordan lauded Tyler Reddick’s driving and acknowledged Bubba Wallace’s commendable efforts despite falling short of a win this time.
“Tyler did an unbelievable job. I mean, the team, both teams, did an unbelievable job. And look, I wanted one of them to win. You know, I feel bad for Bubba, obviously, because he had an unbelievable day, but Tyler drove his a** off.”
Jordan also took a moment to support Wallace after missing another chance at triumph, highlighting the depth and talent within his racing program.
Tyler Reddick Eyes Road Course Success at Circuit of the Americas
Following his historic victory, Reddick is turning his focus toward the upcoming race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), a track where he has consistently excelled. Known for his road course skill, he has not finished outside the top 10 at COTA and boasts two poles, two podium finishes, and a win there.
Reddick faces notable competition from Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated road courses with five wins last year. Sharing his anticipation for the race, Reddick highlighted the motivation and preparation his team has invested this offseason to match and surpass top contenders.
“It’s a great place. It’s where I got my first win with 23XI a couple of years ago, and we’ve been probably just as motivated this offseason as we were when we first got together going into there. So, I’m very excited for what that means and how we show up with speed, short and long run. So very excited to get there and see how much we’ve closed the gap to Shane and some of the top runners.”
Strong Road Course Performances After a Challenging 2025 Season
Reddick’s dominant start to 2026 follows a difficult 2025 campaign, where he did not secure any wins but reached the playoffs through consistent finishes. His road course results remained a bright spot, featuring six top-10 placements, including podiums at COTA and Chicago, sixth place at Sonoma, ninth at Watkins Glen, and tenth at the Charlotte Roval.
The next challenge for Reddick will come at COTA on Sunday, March 1, at 3:30 PM ET, where he hopes to continue building momentum and reinforce his team’s title aspirations.
The WINNER of the Daytona 500 @tyler_reddick arrives in style with the WrestleMania Title! 😤
AND is joined by World Heavyweight Champion @CMPunk! @ChumbaCasino | @23xiracing pic.twitter.com/vEuD2J2eoM
— WWE (@WWE) February 24, 2026
