For Michael Jordan, the joy of his first Daytona 500 win was quickly overshadowed by a viral clip that sparked a firestorm. His NASCAR Cup Series team, 23XI Racing, celebrated its first-ever Daytona 500 victory after Tyler Reddick crossed the line in first place. He dodged mayhem and confusion on the final lap, where a tangle of cars produced a ‘Big One’. However, Reddick’s boss could not dodge a wave of controversy during his celebration. Now, Reddick spoke up about the critical remarks.

Michael Jordan receives support from his driver

“From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI, and I don’t see what other people see when it comes to this,” Tyler Reddick said in The Stephen A. Smith Show on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio.

These words of reassurance were crucial for Michael Jordan. While capturing the six-time NBA champion effusively celebrating his team’s big win on Victory Lane, cameras also captured a moment between Jordan and Reddick’s son, Beau. Jordan appeared to be pinching the boy’s lower back and brushing his leg. This moment sparked both critical and defensive comments, with some saying it was a harmless move.

And Tyler Reddick cleared up this debate. “It’s a huge moment for my family and for his family, and I just put that off to the side and think about the look on (Michael Jordan’s wife) Yvette’s face and the whole family and his whole group when they got to victory lane too, and just how happy everybody was celebrating together. So, that’s where I’m at with it.”

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Michael Jordan indeed maintains a close relationship with Tyler Reddick’s family. He carried Beau to Victory Lane after the Daytona 500 win. According to reports, Beau’s shirt became soaked after Tyler Reddick dumped ice water on him during the celebration, and Jordan was simply trying to brush the ice off the six-year-old. Beau had also recently recovered from a health challenge he faced last year, making the moment even more meaningful for the family.

Jordan’s bond with the family runs deep. He has known Alexa DeLeon since she was a baby and shares a longstanding connection with her father, former MLB pitcher Jose DeLeon. Those ties help explain the comfort and familiarity seen in Victory Lane.

Situations like this are not uncommon for high-profile sports figures. In 2025, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones went viral during a game celebration and was later fined $250,000 by the NFL after a brief hand gesture circulated widely online. Jones maintained that the gesture was accidental. The episode served as another reminder that prominent team owners often have their actions closely observed and interpreted in real time.

With that perspective in mind, the focus now returns to the achievement itself. Rather than defining the moment, the brief debate has given way to the bigger story: 23XI Racing’s historic Daytona 500 victory. For Jordan and Reddick, the celebration marks not controversy, but a milestone that could further strengthen Jordan’s growing presence and influence within NASCAR.

A symbol of victory

In 2025, Michael Jordan’s team was teetering on the verge of downfall. 23XI Racing was involved in an intense NASCAR lawsuit alongside Front Row Motorsports. The showdown with NASCAR cost them their chartered positions in mid-year, and they had to run as open teams. However, the lawsuit trial in December flipped the narrative in Jordan and Co.’s favor, as they secured permanent charters.

And to start off 2026, Michael Jordan fetched another victory at the Daytona 500.

These events convinced Ken Willis of the Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL that Michael Jordan is “becoming the face of NASCAR.” Willis noted that NASCAR Chair & CEO Jim France’s appearance in Victory Lane was unique. He was “congratulating everyone, including Michael Jordan, green-lights that effort. No one can recall Jim being in Victory Lane after a Daytona 500.”

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, also highlighted Michael Jordan’s prestige. “It’s big for the sport. He’s the most popular athlete in the world; I don’t think there’s any disputing that. And he loves the sport.”

Clearly, the Daytona 500 win elevated Michael Jordan’s position rather than tarnishing it. Despite the wave of mixed remarks about his actions, his driver’s comments cleared up the controversy.