Kevin Harvick Reveals the ‘Ironic and Really Good moment’ From 2026 Daytona 500 Victory Lane
Ex-NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick shared his thoughts on special Michael Jordan moment from the 2026 Daytona 500.
Follow Us
Jim France, Kevin Harvick and Michael Jordan (NY Times and IMAGO)
- Tyler Reddick won the 2026 Daytona 500 without leading a lap, aided by teammate Riley Herbst.
- Kevin Harvick highlighted the handshake between Michael Jordan and Jim France as a significant moment for NASCAR.
- Harvick emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration for 23XI Racing's future success.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series opener the Daytona 500 was a chaotic race, that saw 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick securing the race win. He won the race without leading a single lap, taking advantage of the push from teammate Riley Herbst. According to 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, the win or the victory lane celebration form the 45 team wasn’t the best moment of the day.
It was the victory lane moment involving 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan and NASCAR’s Jim France. Veteran Kevin Harvick asserted that the sport CEO coming to the victory lane and shaking MJ’s hands was an ironic yet good moment. For more than a year, till the settlement there was a lot of animosity between the duo over the charter lawsuit saga.
I wanna go back to my favorite moment in Victory Lane and just how ironic this whole scenario is with NASCAR and 23XI because Jim France and Michael Jordan shaking hands and Jim France and Denny Hamlin shaking hands — that is really good for our sport.
Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.
According to the ex-Stewart Haas Racing driver Jim France was making a good effort by going to the victory lane, showing how they are working really hard to move forward from the dark chapter. One of the key factor Michael Jordan highlighted about moving on from the drama was better communication and it starts with being happy for each other.
The fact that Jim France went to Victory Lane and the effort they are putting in to move forward and be happy for each other and work together and as Michael Jordan said in his interview, communicate — it’s all about communication, he mentioned it a few times in his interview — says a lot about us moving on.
Kevin Harvick added.
Kevin Harvick picked 23XI Racing as the team under the most pressure ahead of Daytona 500
23XI Racing really needed the Daytona 500 win and Kevin Harvick has explained this earlier. He highlighted how inconsistent 23XI was in 2025 and how Reddick, as well as Bubba Wallace is expected to win multiple races for the team. With the win at Daytona, they are starting to make a strong comeback.
For me, it’s 23XI. We gave them a mulligan last year. He went there to win races and he’s been there long enough to win races. You’re expecting multiple wins out of that car. They expect them to go out and contend for a championship
Kevin Harvick said before 2026 Daytona 500.
In the same podcast, senior NASCAR Journalist Bob Pockrass didn’t pick 23XI instead he picked RCR, who has been struggling throughout the Next-Gen era since Kyle Busch joined them. The team might lose the two times champion if they go another year winless.
To me, it’s RCR. You talk about Kyle Busch being a free agent. Can you get things right with a new crew chief and make him feel like this is where he wants to keep racing?
Bob Pockrass asserted.
The comments from the sports veterans seems rational and on point. 23XI and RCR had a average 2025 season that saw them secure just one race win. They need to redeem themselves with strong performance in the 2026 season.
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)