Michael Jordan relishes Denny Hamlin’s failure at Kansas

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin might be partners off-track, but whenever NASCAR hits the track, the two become arch-nemeses. Hamlin, racing for JGR, becomes the dominant force that 23XI Racing needs to overcome nearly every weekend for a better finish.

Thus, it’s no wonder Jordan couldn’t help but enjoy a little when Hamlin lost out on the final restart. Talking about the race, Jordan happily said, “I mean. Look, I am racing against Denny. So, I really wanted to beat him. Because I know we’re going to talk a lot of trash a little bit later, but it was a good race!”

While they did win the race, the final few laps gave them enough of a scare to scramble in desperation. It is a miracle that the caution came out when it did, and Tyler Reddick was able to stage a near-impossible comeback.

 

“When we started running out of fuel, I didn’t know what was happening, but all the guys at 23XI drove well today. We finished, I think, with all four cars in the top 15. That says a lot about the program, and this kid is on fire. I don’t know what to say; I don’t even know if I could calm him.

“He’s unbelievable. Those were an unbelievable last couple of laps, and I am proud of him. I am proud of the whole team.” Reddick started the race on pole today, and though he lost out to Hamlin and Larson in the early stages, the final stage was all his to dominate.

With five wins in the first nine races of the season, Reddick once again finds himself toe to toe with Dale Earnhardt. Nearly four decades after Earnhardt Sr., Reddick became the first driver to achieve this milestone. The last time it happened was in 1987, the season Dale Earnhardt won his third championship.

So what exactly does Michael Jordan feel about his team and their milestones?

Michael Jordan admits to the perks of victory

“Yeah, when you win, it’s always fun.” Jordan did not hold back the slightest when Jamie Little asked him post-race about his feelings after victory. Moreover, 23XI Racing is currently going through its best season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

What makes it even more special is the fact that Jordan has been a witness to each one of these victories and more. “Right now it’s fun for everybody at 23XI, so me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for them. I just think we need to continue building on this without a doubt,” Jordan exclaimed.

His words suggest that he is not satisfied with mere victories from the regular season. Jordan has always been a competitive athlete, and his NBA persona translates to NASCAR when he visits them on the track. The points Reddick has been accumulating in the first half of the regular season make him a strong contender for the regular-season crown.

What that means is that Reddick might just get an edge when NASCAR begins its first rendition of the newest Chase to Cup format for 2026. The grid does not have any answer to Toyota’s speed for now, and at this point, Reddick seems to be running away with the trophies.

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