NASCAR veteran points to the irony of Michael Jordan racing for a championship after Tyler Reddick’s win

Retired NASCAR driver and television personality Kenny Wallace took to social media to express amusement at the outcome of Sunday's Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Missouri native found it ironic that 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick clinched a Championship 4 spot, given the team's ongoing legal dispute with NASCAR.

The 61-year-old shared his thoughts on Reddick's monumental win on his personal X account. He highlighted the irony of the 28-year-old driver advancing to the championship race while his team is involved in a lawsuit against NASCAR, concluding his post with three laughing emojis. Wallace wrote:

"The team that is suing NASCAR just locked themselves in the championship race"

Earlier this month, 23XI Racing, co-owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan and Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France, accusing the sport of monopolistic practices and violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. The suit stemmed from the two teams not reaching a charter renewal agreement ahead of the 2025 season, a contrast from the other Cup Series teams.

In Sunday's race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Reddick wheeled his #45 Toyota to victory for the third time this season. The California native, running in third under the white flag, overtook both Hamlin and leader Ryan Blaney on the final lap to secure the win. It was the eighth win of Reddick's career and it helped him secure a spot in the championship race in two weeks time at Phoenix for the first time in his career.

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Michael Jordan said they "needed" Tyler Reddick's thrilling victory on Sunday

Michael Jordan was ecstatic after his driver's much-needed win for 23XI Racing. In his post-race interview with NBC Sports, the six-time NBA champion praised Tyler Reddick for an incredible last-lap finish.

"Little kid drove his ass off. I'm proud of him. He just let go [on the final lap]. He just went for it, and I'm glad. We needed it," he said.

Jordan warmly embraced Reddick after he took the checkered flag in Sunday's 267-lap race. In the post-race press conference, Reddick was asked what the basketball great said to him following the hug, to which he responded by saying:

"He was just really proud, the fight that we had, never giving up, fighting through the adversity. Just really, really proud of the effort we put forth. Like I said, he believes in me. He believes in this team. I know the circumstances weren't ideal. This is the kind of things we have to overcome when we get put in these positions. We've had to do it a few times. He was really proud of the whole team for the effort we put forth."

Reddick joins Joey Logano as the two drivers to clinch a spot in the Championship 4. With one race left to go before Phoenix, Christopher Bell and William Byron currently hold the other two positions.