Tyler Reddick Surges to Victory in Wild Daytona 500

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On Sunday afternoon, Tyler Reddick etched his name into NASCAR history, delivering a dramatic victory in the 68th running of the Daytona 500. Driving the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick crossed the finish line to secure the first “Great American Race” win for co-owner Michael Jordan.

The race was a classic Daytona war of attrition, culminating in a chaotic final lap that saw the lead change hands just yards from the checkered flag.

The Final Lap Charge

A high-stakes chess match between Chase Elliott and Reddick defined the closing stages. After a late-race caution involving Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell with nine laps to go, the field was set for a four-lap sprint.

“The Big One” and Stage Recaps

The race was marred by several multi-car accidents that decimated the field, including a massive “Big One” during Stage 2.

Stage 1: Zane Smith earned his first career Cup Series stage win, utilizing a fuel-saving strategy to hold off the Ford contingent.
The Big One (Lap 124): A 20-car pileup ignited near the end of Stage 2 when Justin Allgaier made a late block on Denny Hamlin. The resulting carnage eliminated top contenders, including Alex Bowman, Todd Gilliland, and rookie sensation Connor Zilisch.
Stage 2: Ryan Blaney took the green-checkered flag for the stage win after surviving the Lap 124 chaos.

Top 5 Finishers

Finish	Driver	Team	Manufacturer
1	Tyler Reddick	23XI Racing	Toyota
2	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	JTG Daugherty	Chevrolet
3	Joey Logano	Team Penske	Ford
4	Chase Elliott	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet
5	Brad Keselowski	RFK Racing	Ford

Notable Storylines

Kyle Busch’s Drought: Despite starting on the pole, Kyle Busch’s 0-for-20 streak at the Daytona 500 continues. He led early but was shuffled back during the final stage pit stops.
Keselowski’s Grit: Brad Keselowski finished a remarkable 5th while still recovering from a broken femur suffered in the off-season, opting to race through the pain without a relief driver.
The New Body Style: Chevrolet’s new “sleeker” body design faced a trial by fire, with mixed results as several high-profile Chevys were collected in the mid-race wrecks.

Looking Ahead: The West Coast Swing

With a Daytona 500 trophy in hand, Tyler Reddick is the first driver to officially lock himself into the 2026 NASCAR Playoffs. The series now heads west to Southern California.