Over the last few years, 23XI Racing has become more and more synonymous with success in the NASCAR Cup Series. From Tyler Reddick's playoff appearance in 2024 to his back-to-back race wins coming into 2026. Now, Michael Jordan's team wants to level up and eclipse its present success.

23XI Racing President Steve Lauletta recently spoke to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on the team's past, present trajectory, and future plans. This was when he unravelled how Jordan's team reached the height they wanted to reach in the first five years.

"I think we were a little bit ahead of our goal," Lauletta said. "We wanted to be a consistent potential race-winning team and battle for championships as an organisation. And obviously, we put Tyler in the final four in 2024. So I think we were a little bit ahead, and now we enter the next five years, and I feel like we're right where we need to be."

Following this, Lauletta shed light on how Tyler Reddick won five races so far into the 2026 season and led the regular season championship until the Sonoma race. Moreover, the team also claimed a race win from young driver Corey Heim. Their current form has set big expectations for the team now, for the coming years.

"We had all of those things, have added up to us, as 23XI, I think, becoming more recognisable on and off the track. And we just need to keep that going for the next five years. But in that five years, in order to be the brand we want to be, it is going to be more wins, it is going to be battling for Championships," Lauletta further added on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

It's not just the team's performance on the track. Off the track, too, the organization has attracted high-profile sponsors, and Michael Jordan's global appeal has helped the 23XI brand grow beyond the traditional NASCAR audience.

Lauletta's words hint at how the next phase is about transforming 23XI into a brand recognized beyond stock car racing. It could be something similar to how Jordan's influence transcended basketball. And to do that, they need a form nothing less than what they've shown this season.

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin formed 23XI Racing in 2020, and the team made its official debut in the 2021 Daytona 500. The name stemmed from Jordan's lifelong number 23 and Hamlin's car number 11.

23XI Racing initially started with Bubba Wallace and then roped in Tyler Reddick. Now they have Riley Herbst with a full-time ride, but next year, they will replace Herbst with Corey Heim.

This was Jordan's first involvement in NASCAR, and it meant an enormous deal for the sport. The NBA legend, who is worth $4.3 billion, also brought the globally renowned brand Air Jordan to the sport, which was acquired by Nike and is worth $10 billion.

When Michael Jordan warned NASCAR field about 23XI

Following Tyler Reddick's back-to-back three wins in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, Michael Jordan delivered a warning for the rest of the field. Thanks to Reddick and his high rides, Jordan was a regular face at NASCAR tracks, and after the win at COTA, he had a message for Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and others.

"It’s time for change, time for change,” Jordan said in March. “And the guys feel the same thing. Tyler came in with the most pressure. I guess everybody expected him, or he had a chance to win three in a row. That’s the hardest one to win, you know? He kept to his strategy, and man, the guys put together a great car, man.” (via NASCAR.com)

23XI Racing indeed has been the best team in the NASCAR Cup Series this season. With six wins in 18 races, MJ and Denny Hamlin's drivers have been on top this season. Besides Reddick, Heim (who won a race at San Diego) and Bubba Wallace have also been consistent with eight top 10s and three top fives.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason