DARLINGTON, S.C. — Michael Jordan celebrated on a NASCAR pit road once again.
The 23XI Racing co-owner, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, was dialed into Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington.
Tyler Reddick, his 28-year-old driver with a pair of victories to his name, was locked in a battle with Kyle Larson for the regular-season points title — as Bubba Wallace started from the pole and attempted to lift himself into the postseason for the second straight year.
Wallace looked fast early before being collected in a late wreck. And while Larson appeared to have the dominant car for most of the night, Reddick ultimately finished just one point ahead of him to claim his first regular-season championship.
“I’m still disappointed,” Jordan said. “Obviously I’m disappointed we didn’t get both cars in. Bubba did a great job in qualifying and trying to get himself in. But that disappointment makes me a little bit happy to see Reddick fighting himself to a championship. I’m kind of halfway feeling better and halfway feeling sad.
“But look. We are blessed as a team, and we’re gonna keep getting better. I’m gonna stress this from my perspective, and I know Denny’s gonna do the same thing.”
‘Believe me: I’m not satisfied’
Reddick had a stomach bug on Sunday. His team gave him pills, which he said he dropped inside his car as they were too small, and he was eventually given a water bottle with the medicine crushed up.
Reddick said he was “waiting to puke all over myself” and found himself hanging onto the wheel with one hand at times. The No. 45 car only led one lap on Sunday but managed to stay toward the front of the pack throughout the race.
The regular-season title, which awards 15 bonus playoff points, is a significant accomplishment for the young race team owned by Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
“We’re coming. We’ve got the right team,” Jordan said. “These guys, they bust their ass all season. Bubba, he fought all day. Fought all night, and he got caught up in the wreck. Even though the 14 (Chase Briscoe) won, it would have been tough for us to point our way in, so we would have had to win. He put it on pole yesterday. He’s put up a great effort.
“I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of what Denny’s done thus far, and we’ve just got to keep striving. Believe me: I’m not satisfied by no means. He still has a chance to win the championship at the end of the season, and that’s what we’re gonna strive for. Bubba, he keeps getting better. He’s gotta use these next races to try to get a win and do the best he can. But we can’t stay complacent, we have to keep getting better.”
Jordan taking in the NASCAR experience
Once Briscoe had taken the checkered flag and the field’s playoff drivers were stopped, Jordan hung around with the entire No. 45 team for about a half-hour.
Families of Reddick and the regular season title-winning team were on pit road, as were dozens of fans. Some even wore Jordan’s No. 23 Chicago Bulls jersey to the race track. Other notable faces around NASCAR, including former NFL coach and team owner Joe Gibbs, paid visits to congratulate Jordan and 23XI Racing.
Once the crowd dispersed, fans followed Jordan from pit road into the parking lot. Jordan even took the time to shake the hands of some excited children.
“I mean, I wasn’t going around 200 miles an hour in a car,” Jordan said. “I’m proud of (Reddick’s) effort. And we needed it. We won by one point. He gutted it out, hopefully he feels better tomorrow and next week.”
