Michael Jordan witnessed a dramatic incident during practice for the NASCAR season finale, as his 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick destroyed his No. 45 Toyota Camry. The crash occurred on Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway as Reddick approached pit road.
Jordan, the team owner, was visibly dismayed, with footage showing him with an open mouth and raised arm in disbelief from the pit box. Reddick's car sustained heavy damage to its front end after colliding with the back of Zane Smith's slowing vehicle.
Reddick explained the sequence of events, noting that he was attempting an aggressive pit entry in practice, where speeding penalties are not enforced. He stated that he did not see cars turning into the garage ahead, which were partially obscured by another vehicle. "The whole nose. It's a bummer. It was the best car I've had here," Reddick told reporters.
The incident leaves Reddick's team with a significant challenge to repair the car before Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's final race. Neither Reddick nor his teammate Bubba Wallace are in contention for the championship title, with Kyle Larson widely expected to secure it.
Despite the setback, Jordan's commitment to NASCAR remains evident, as he was present at the track for the final event of the season. Reddick had previously spoken about Jordan's motivational impact on the team, recalling a visit to their race shop before the playoffs where Jordan delivered an inspiring address.
"He knows how to get the point across, he knows how to get people excited, and he knows how to make it relatable," Reddick said of Jordan's leadership. "Just an amazing leader, a great speaker, and for us, it was great that he made the time to come see us, come talk to us."