HAMPTON, Ga. -- Tyler Reddick delivered another thrilling victory for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing team, winning the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Atlanta Motor Speedway in double overtime on Sunday. The win marked Reddick's second consecutive triumph to open the NASCAR Cup Series season, making him the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2009 to sweep the first two races. With the checkered flag in hand, Reddick not only secured his 10th career victory but also propelled 23XI Racing to the top of the points standings, with Reddick and teammate Bubba Wallace occupying the first two positions.
The race, held on the 1.54-mile high-banked oval south of Atlanta, unfolded as a chaotic battle featuring a track-record 57 lead changes. Reddick led a race-high 53 laps, including the crucial final two after a double-overtime restart. Despite suffering damage to the right-front fender of his No. 45 Toyota in a nine-car crash on Lap 224 of the scheduled 260, Reddick fell two laps down during repairs but charged back from 27th place to snatch the lead from Wallace on the last lap.
"I mean, that's crazy, ain't it?" Reddick said in Victory Lane, reflecting on his comeback. "I just found a way to get back in the top five, and I tried to stay committed to somebody." His performance echoed his Daytona 500 win the previous week, where he became only the fourth driver in history to claim the crown jewel event by leading just the final lap.
Michael Jordan, the six-time NBA champion and co-owner of 23XI Racing, was on hand to celebrate the sweep, marking the second straight Sunday of Victory Lane celebrations for his team. Jordan's presence added a layer of star power to the event, especially following his team's legal victory in a federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR settled in December. That agreement established a permanent franchise-style model, ensuring the stability of teams like 23XI for the long term.
"The guy's worked hard all summer, and I know we had our little ordeal," Jordan said after the race, referring to the court battle that concluded with a reconciliation involving NASCAR CEO and Chairman Jim France. "They kept working hard, and this is the fruit of their labor. They put forth the effort, and for us to come out and win the first two races says a lot about our whole team."
Jordan praised Reddick's driving prowess while expressing sympathy for Wallace, who entered the final restart in first but shuffled back to eighth place. Wallace still earned the second-most points of the day with 48, thanks to winning the second stage and leading 46 laps overall. "Tyler did an unbelievable job," Jordan added. "I feel bad for Bubba because he had an unbelievable day. But Tyler drove his ass off. I'm very happy for Tyler. I'm very happy for 23XI."
The race's intensity was evident from the start, with Austin Cindric capitalizing on a long green-flag run to win the first stage. Starting from 30th position, Cindric benefited from 61 consecutive laps without a caution, an unusual occurrence for the track reconfigured in 2022 into its current drafting-friendly layout. This marked the second straight year that the opening stage at Atlanta's February event concluded without a yellow flag, defying the venue's reputation for unpredictability.
Cautions dominated the second stage, however, with three yellow flags in just 40 laps involving 16 cars and sidelining prominent drivers such as Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Kyle Busch. The 160-lap segment ended under caution when defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson collided with Shane van Gisbergen and slammed into the outside wall. These incidents set the stage for the overtime extensions that pushed the race beyond its scheduled distance.
Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports triggered a large crash during the first overtime, but he recovered to finish fourth, followed by Daniel Suarez in fifth. Chase Briscoe, who provided a crucial push to Reddick in the final laps, crossed the line in second place. Ross Chastain rounded out the podium in third, impressed by Reddick's speed despite the damage to his car.
"Tyler had like another gear," Chastain said. "[He had] no fender, and he pulled us so fast." Chastain's observation highlighted Reddick's resilience, as the driver maintained competitive pace even after losing bodywork in the Lap 224 pileup.
Tensions flared elsewhere on the track, particularly in an incident involving Kyle Busch and Noah Gragson. On Lap 125, Busch's No. 8 Chevrolet was hit from behind by Gragson's No. 4 Ford exiting Turn 2, sending Busch spinning and ultimately finishing 33rd. Both drivers hail from Las Vegas, but the 40-year-old Busch showed no leniency toward the younger Gragson.
"He didn't give me an opportunity to make sure I was straight before hitting me or get into me gently to try and get the momentum back," Busch said. "He just drove right through me." Gragson, 13 years Busch's junior, has been known for his aggressive style, but Busch's frustration underscored the fine line between hard racing and recklessness at a track like Atlanta.
The victory solidifies 23XI Racing's strong start to the season, building on the momentum from the Daytona 500. Jordan's involvement in NASCAR has been a boon for the sport, blending his competitive legacy from basketball with the high-stakes world of stock car racing. The team's success comes at a pivotal time, following the antitrust settlement that resolved uncertainties about the series' structure and team charters.
With Reddick now leading the points standings and Wallace close behind, 23XI Racing appears poised for a championship run. The early sweep not only boosts team morale but also validates the hard work invested during the offseason, particularly amid the legal distractions. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as the season progresses, with Jordan's winning streak off the court continuing to captivate audiences.
Looking ahead, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for its first road course of the 2026 season on March 1. Last year, Christopher Bell outdueled Busch and William Byron to claim victory at the 3.41-mile track, setting the stage for another competitive outing. As teams recover from Atlanta's intensity, the focus shifts to adapting to the twists and turns of road racing, where strategy and precision often trump raw speed.
Reddick's back-to-back wins represent a rare feat in modern NASCAR, reminiscent of dominant starts by legends like Kenseth. For Jordan, it's another chapter in a career defined by excellence, now extending into motorsports. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will be remembered as a testament to perseverance, with Reddick's drive from the back embodying the spirit of the sport.