In a thrilling turn of events that left fans on the edge of their seats, Tyler Reddick made history by becoming the 44th driver to win the Daytona 500, securing victory for 23XI Racing and its legendary co-owner, Michael Jordan. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating: Reddick led only the final lap of the race, a feat achieved just four times in Daytona 500 history. This win marks Reddick’s ninth career victory in his 219th Cup Series start, ending a 38-race winless streak since his last triumph at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2024. And this is the part most people miss—Reddick joins an elite group of drivers, including Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, and Bill Elliott, as the fourth driver in the modern era to claim his first nine victories at nine different tracks. Talk about versatility!
The 2026 Daytona 500 was nothing short of electrifying, with a record-breaking 25 leaders and 65 lead changes—the second-most in the race’s history. Reddick’s win also marked the first Daytona 500 victory for 23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA icon Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. Toyota celebrated its fourth Daytona 500 win, while Hamlin earned his first season-opening victory as a team owner.
But here’s the controversial part: Does Reddick’s strategy of leading only the final lap redefine what it means to win a race? Is it luck, skill, or a combination of both? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Rounding out the top five were Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski. For the full results, race notes, and detailed reports, check out the links below.
Full Results of the 2026 Daytona 500:
1. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
4. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
5. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
6. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
7. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
8. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
9. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
10. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
11. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
12. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
13. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
14. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
15. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
16. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
17. Cody Ware, No. 51 Chevrolet
18. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
19. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
20. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
21. Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
22. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
23. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
24. Cole Custer, No. 41 Chevrolet
25. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
26. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
27. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
28. Corey Heim, No. 67 Toyota
29. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Toyota
30. Shane Van Gisbergen, No. 97 Chevrolet
31. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
32. Casey Mears, No. 66 Ford
33. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet
34. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
35. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
36. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
37. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
38. Justin Allgaier, No. 40 Chevrolet
39. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
40. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
41. BJ McLeod, No. 78 Chevrolet
For more insights and updates, follow Nate Ryan’s coverage on NBC Sports. And don’t forget to join the conversation—is Tyler Reddick’s victory a game-changer for NASCAR? Let us know below!
