Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s co-owned 23XI Racing team has dominated NASCAR through the first three races of the 2026 Cup Series season.
Tyler Reddick has wheeled the No. 45 car to an unprecedented three straight wins to kick off the campaign. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace has posted two top 10 finishes in the No. 23 car and currently sits second in the points standings behind his teammate.
Retired NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick weighed in on the hot start for Jordan and Hamlin’s team. With Hamlin’s experience in the sport backed by Jordan’s prominence, Harvick believes it makes for a dangerous pairing in NASCAR.
Harvick on the Michael Jordan/Denny Hamlin partnership: ‘Obviously dangerous’
In a recent episode of “SPEED with Harvick and Buxton,” Harvick was asked how Jordan’s influence translates to the rest of 23XI Racing. The 2014 Cup champion referred to Jordan’s post-race comments on FOX after Circuit of The Americas.
Jordan’s driver, Reddick, won last Sunday’s Cup Series race at COTA for his third straight win to start the season, something no driver has done before.
“I just put up the money. I’m just a competitor. I think Denny’s done an unbelievable job in terms of helping building this team,” Jordan said.
Going off of Jordan’s post-race comments, Harvick believes the basketball legend’s financial backing is a great asset to the team. Combine that with Hamlin’s NASCAR knowledge, and the two make for an incredible pairing as co-owners of 23XI Racing.
“That pairing of Denny Hamlin’s ability to understand the sport. … Michael Jordan’s commitment to make sure that they have the funding and the things that they need to put those cars on the racetrack. … I think that pairing of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin is obviously dangerous,” Harvick said.
Jordan and Hamlin have come a long way with 23XI Racing since its formation in 2021.
It started off as a one-car team in 2021 with Bubba Wallace behind the wheel. That year, Wallace won his first career race as a driver and the team’s first race in a rain-shortened race at Talladega.
The team brought on Kurt Busch in 2022, who won what would be his final career race at Kansas that year. Wallace picked up a victory in the fall Kansas race that same year.
The team brought Tyler Reddick aboard in 2023 and expanded to a three-car team with Riley Herbst in 2025. Since 2023, 23XI Racing has won nine races, with eight of them coming from Reddick.
Tyler Reddick on historic run to start 2026 season
Michael Jordan’s driver, Tyler Reddick, has come out of the gates swinging in 2026. The California native kicked off the season by winning the Daytona 500. Then, Reddick followed up with a pair of victories at EchoPark Speedway and Circuit of The Americas.
It’s the first time in NASCAR history that a driver has won the first three races of the season. The victories have given Reddick a 70-point lead in the standings over teammate Bubba Wallace, who currently sits second.
Reddick will aim for a four-peat this Sunday at the Phoenix Raceway. The driver of the No. 45 has never won at Phoenix, with his best finish being third twice.
Kevin Harvick Talks ‘Dangerous’ Duo of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin