23XI Racing has punched well above its weight since it started competing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, the two drivers, have helped the team quickly grow into a competitive race team. The duo have helped the team collect seven Cup wins so far, and Reddick has certainly raised the bar after snagging the regular season championship this season.
From 2021 to 2024, the team has grown into a genuine title contender. And while the drivers are the ones who are leading the charge on the racetrack, it is the owners that have ingrained a winning mentality in the team. Michael Jordan in particular has been influential in the way the team operates and competes. While there are complaints that Jordan isn’t involved with the team, Billy Scott from the No. 45 shared some unknown things about MJ.
How the mere presence of Michael Jordan is motivational
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NASCAR racing is more than a business proposition for Jordan. Jordan’s passion for the sport stems right from his childhood. His father James would take him to Winston Cup Series races at Charlotte, Darlington, and Rockingham, and even to Daytona Beach. So, the argument he is in it for only money and business proposition isn’t fair on the 6-time NBA champ.
Moreover, the amount of knowledge and wisdom he, as a team owner, brings to the table is just unmatched. This was evident in the way Billy Scott explained MJ’s equation and impact on 23XI Racing. “Yeah, it’s incredible, just his presence brings so much enthusiasm to the team. But it’s also interesting to see his passion for it; he really does love the sport, and he really does follow it as closely as any fan can. So he is in tune; he is definitely in the sport because he loves it.” Scott said this on the MRN Crew Call podcast.
The crew chief of the #45 team also shared that the competitive edge that the team displays on the track comes from their co-owner. “When he does speak to us, he brings knowledge and just general competitive motivation that you can’t find anywhere else. So we’re all fortunate to have him here not just because he’s a committed team owner but just because of his competitiveness and being able to pass some of that motivation to us,” he added.
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And this attitude or desire to win is visible in Tyler Reddick and the #45 team in the way they have performed this year. Having snagged the regular season title and overcome the difficulties of the first playoff round, the #45 team is feeling optimistic about upcoming races.
Reddick is expected to pick his form back up in the Round of 12 races
The first three races in the playoffs haven’t been something to rave about for the Reddick and his team. Apart from the P6 finish at Atlanta, the driver was unable to deliver the goods at Watkins Glen and Bristol. Thanks to his regular season title and two race wins, he had accumulated enough playoff points to see out a streak of mediocre finishes. But, with the tracks lined up for three races, the chances of a comeback are looking pretty strong for the #45 team.
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Scott expressing his thoughts and approach going into the next round of races said, “The round in general is something that shapes up well for us. We’re excited to get into it. Having won Kansas this race last year in the playoffs and then having won Talladega the last time there. And then expect a run at the Roval too. I mean, this is a good round we feel like and hope to keep the momentum going.”
Tyler Reddick has won in two of the three upcoming racetracks. A win last year at Kansas, and his recent triumph at Talladega. So, he does have a good stretch of races coming his way; all he needs to do is execute. The good news for him is that despite a mediocre first round, he is still 20 points above the cutline. He is only trailing the likes of Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, so keep an eye out for him in the Round of 12.
