Michael Jordan owned 23XI Racing goes back-to-back to start 2026 NASCAR season originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Tyler Reddick delivered another early-season statement Sunday, giving Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing its second consecutive victory to open the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Reddick surged to the front in overtime to win the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway. The victory came one week after he captured the Daytona 500, making him the sixth driver in Cup Series history to start a season with back-to-back wins and the first since Matt Kenseth in 2009.
Reddick’s latest triumph did not come easy.
After inclement weather canceled qualifying, the race unfolded with its usual Atlanta drama. Overtime was needed — twice. On the first attempt, Carson Hocevar aggressively lined up behind Christopher Bell, telling his spotter he planned to push Bell regardless of damage. The field reset after chaos ensued.
On the second overtime restart, Bubba Wallace jumped to the lead and appeared to deliver 23XI Racing a 1-2 finish. Wallace led more than 40 laps and controlled the outside lane, but a late squeeze entering the white-flag lap shuffled him backward. Wallace and Hocevar battled each other instead of protecting their lines, eliminating both from contention. Wallace ultimately finished eighth.
Reddick methodically worked the bottom lane with help from Chase Briscoe despite carrying right-front damage in the closing segment. He slipped inside Wallace and held firm through the final corners to claim his first career Atlanta victory.
Jordan celebrated on pit road as 23XI Racing continued its early dominance.
The rebranded Autotrader 400 added another chapter to Atlanta’s recent string of classics, reinforcing that even with a new name and fresh look but the same racing.
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