Kevin Harvick(Left)-Image Credit-Stephanie Amador / USA TODAY NETWORK Michael Jordan (Center)-Image Credit-Scott Kinser-Imagn Images Tyler Reddick (Right)-Image Credit- Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Kevin Harvick(Left)-Image Credit-Stephanie Amador / USA TODAY NETWORK Michael Jordan (Center)-Image Credit-Scott Kinser-Imagn Images Tyler Reddick (Right)-Image Credit- Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Kevin Harvick isn't one to shy away from giving honest opinions. And on his Happy Hour's latest episode, he aimed at Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick, questioning his graph.
While dissecting his performance with his co-hosts, Harvick questioned the last time the 23XI driver dominated a race on sheer speed.
“There hasn't been that pure dominance of speed. It has been a great execution from keeping the car going and keeping yourself in position with great restarts and getting it done behind the wheel. It hasn't been pure dominance.”
Harvick's words hold when we analyze Reddick's situation. If he has led laps in a race, he couldn't go all the way, like in Charlotte, whereas when he has won races, he hasn't dominated the entire race, whether it was Kansas or Darlington.
Reddick opened the 2026 season with three straight wins, going on to win five. However, as Harvick rightly pointed out, the wins mostly came in after the No 45 driver put himself in a position to win, capitalizing on opportunities, and not through sheer dominance.
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA 2026: NASCAR Cup Series MAR 01 March 1, 2026: Tyler Reddick 45 with 23XI Racing Toyota in action championship race at the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas. Austin, Texas. Mario Cantu/CSMCredit Image: Mario Cantu/Cal Media Austin Texas United States of America EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20260301_faf_c04_102.jpg MarioxCantux csmphotothree476762
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA 2026: NASCAR Cup Series MAR 01 March 1, 2026: Tyler Reddick 45 with 23XI Racing Toyota in action championship race at the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas. Austin, Texas. Mario Cantu/CSMCredit Image: Mario Cantu/Cal Media Austin Texas United States of America EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20260301_faf_c04_102.jpg MarioxCantux csmphotothree476762
The best example of this is Reddick's last win at Kansas Speedway. He won the race after it was thrown into overtime due to Cody Ware’s crash. During this, he managed to overtake Kyle Larson in the final two corners of the track.
As of now, the Michael Jordan-owned team driver is leading the championship by 97 points. But his 23XI boss and Joe Gibbs Racing driver has begun to catch up to him.
Michael Jordan and co. add another star driver to their lineup
Corey Heim was promoted as a full-time driver with 23XI after Racing for the team as a part-time driver for the last three seasons.
Heim will join the current lineup of Championship leader Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. The NBA legend has had his eyes on the defending Truck series champion for a long time. According to reports, Jordan had told Hamlin to “lock him up” for a Cup Series deal before any other team signed him.
While talking to the media, co-owner Denny Hamlin said, “Corey is a gifted driver who is continuing to get better and better with each race he runs. He has a bright future in the sport and joins a team that is continuing to build a solid foundation.”
Heim has had 11 starts with the team so far, and his best finish came at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he placed sixth. He won the Truck championship last year while making part-time appearances in the Cup Series.
You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!
Written by
Chionia Libania Colaco
Edited by
Suyashdeep Sason