Michael Jordan has won six NBA championships in his legendary career, but he’s ready to be fitted for another ring for his latest accomplishment.
Tyler Reddick won the Dayton 500 on Sunday while racing for the Jordan-owned 23XI racing team. The six-time NBA champion raised the Harley J. Earl Trophy as co-owner of the winning team, and said it ranks with his greatest achievements.
“I’m ecstatic, I don’t even know what to say,” Jordan, who turns 63 on Tuesday, said on Fox after the trophy ceremony. “It feels like a won a championship, but until I get my ring I won’t even know.”
There was a 20-car crash early in the race and another crash later that opened it up for Reddick, who only led in the final lap.
“It’s stuff you dream of as a kid,” said Reddick. “Now, I definitely didn’t look into the future and know that I would drive for Michael Jordan. But to be able to have someone like Michael Jordan believe in me enough, someone like Denny Hamlin.
“I’m just trying to do my best to live on the promises that I made to them and vice versa.”
Jordan teared up when talking about driver Riley Herbst, who gave Reddick the final push before the finish line. Herbst ended up finishing eighth after the second crash.
“We had four guys that were really fighting that was helping each other out,” Jordan said. “You never know how these races are gonna end, right, you just try to survive. I thought Riley did an unbelievable job by pushing at the end. That shows you what teamwork can really do, he doesn’t get enough credit, he won’t get enough credit, but we feel the love, we understand exactly what he did.”
Asked about his ring size on Fox, Jordan smiled and said, “Thirteen.”
