23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan. Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Michael Jordan steals Darlington spotlight with wild pit road celebration

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Mar 23, 2026 1:48 PM ET

Michael Jordan, the six-time NBA champion and co-owner of NASCAR's 23XI Racing, did not come to Darlington Raceway on Sunday to watch quietly.

When Tyler Reddick crossed the finish line to win the Goodyear 400, Jordan was already moving, climbing over a barrier and celebrating on the front stretch before most people even processed what had happened.

Xfinity Racing captured the moment on X, captioning it "Michael Jordan outta nowhere to celebrate!"

Reddick drove through electrical failures to deliver Jordan another Darlington victory

The problems started on lap 2. Reddick radioed about voltage concerns, and the No. 45 23XI Toyota was managing a failing alternator while leading one of NASCAR's most unforgiving ovals.

After swapping a larger-capacity battery under caution following stage one, the charging issues didn't go away. Reddick shut off his driver cooling systems for the final portion of the race to protect the engine.

Michael Jordan outta nowhere to celebrate! pic.twitter.com/PsLQATpGce
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) March 22, 2026

After the race, Jordan spoke with reporters.

"We just had to get the car right. And he kept his composure, and he did an unbelievable job. I wanted everything to be good. Once he gets back out there, I feel like his competitive juices are going to carry him all the way to the end. Those are the longest 18 to 20 laps that I can even imagine. I just didn't want to see a caution. The caution would have changed everything. But he did the job."

Michael Jordan talks with @JamieLittleTV after Tyler Reddick's win at Darlington. pic.twitter.com/kLWCUVI01h
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 22, 2026

Reddick had no idea Jordan was even at the track until the race ended.

"It's funny. I didn't know Michael was there until I saw him on the frontstretch [celebrating], Reddick said, via Bob Pockrass of Fox. "Y'all got to see him all day, but I didn't know he was there. So I'm even more glad I decided to gut it out, honestly."

Reddick now joins Dale Earnhardt among the rarest names in NASCAR Cup history

Reddick won from the pole, erasing a seven-second deficit to Brad Keselowski in the final 28 laps after pitting on lap 246. Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion, led a race-high 142 laps but couldn't match Reddick's pace when it counted.

"I was doing all I could to make his life hell, and he was so much faster," Keselowski said, via Pockrass. "It didn't matter. That's how it goes."

By winning four of the first six Cup races, Reddick joined Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1987) and Bill Elliott (1992) as the only drivers in NASCAR history to accomplish that feat.

Ryan Blaney finished third, followed by Carson Hocevar and Austin Cindric. Jordan was on hand for all four victories this season.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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