Michael Jordan’s immediate reaction to NASCAR blow speaks volumes of Bulls icon

Michael Jordan’s immediarte reaction to NASCAR blow speaks volumes of Bulls icon

Michael Jordan may have never lost an NBA Finals. Still, the basketball legend had the perfect advice for his 23XI Racing driver, Tyler Reddick, after coming short in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 race.

“To win, you have to lose” was the message MJ relayed to Reddick at the Phoenix finale. Reddick finished sixth in the race and the lowest out of his fellow Championship competitors William Byron, 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, and race winner Joey Logano.

Reddick missing out on the Cup Series title was a bitter blow for the 29-year-old, who was crowned the Regular Season champion before the start of the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls legend watched trackside as Reddick endured the grueling 312-lap race, and he consoled his driver after the chequered flag.

Jordan was heard saying “I’m proud of you” and “get right back at it” – showcasing the mentality needed to win championships. Ultimately, Reddick and Byron couldn’t keep up with Team Penske, whose drivers battled until Logano reached the chequered flag first to claim a third title.

“I think we definitely got our Beast Camry better throughout the day,” Reddick reflected after the race. “It’s just, there was that one time there we were behind the other Championship 4 cars and they were just able to pull away over time

It was a good year for us, everyone at 23XI, to get to the Championship 4 and to have a shot at it was nice. We’ve got to get a little bit better here at Phoenix, and obviously, we’re heavily motivated to do that, knowing the Championship is decided here.

“Good year for us. Proud of the effort. All the preparation, all the work that goes into this, it takes everybody and we were close, we were just not quite good enough unfortunately.”