Just a quarter ago, the future of Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, hung in the balance due to a legal tussle with NASCAR. The court’s verdict was awaited anxiously by the team, wondering if they would be able to participate in the 2025 season. A ray of hope emerged when a district court issued a preliminary injunction, paving the way for Tyler Reddick to potentially replicate his spectacular performance from the previous year.
This off-track victory was indeed a significant one, but it soon led to the team refocusing on the race track, their true battlefield. With the pressure mounting, questions abounded. Would the team be able to regain their footing? Could they prove themselves in the forthcoming season? The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was a golden opportunity for the team, and Reddick made the most of it, seizing pole position for the mega event on Sunday.
In a surprising turn of events at COTA, 23XI Racing found itself in a precarious situation. Tyler Reddick, the 2023 COTA champion, arrived in Austin with a clear objective. As the qualifying session commenced, he wasted no time in flaunting his speed. With an impressive lap time of 1:38.08, he secured the pole position. His teammate, Bubba Wallace, ensured a clean sweep for 23XI by locking in the second position. Wallace’s growth on this track has been noteworthy, having progressed from P23 in 2022 to P11 in 2023, P10 in 2024, and now P2 in 2025.
Following the session, Reddick voiced his concerns about Wallace’s pace, stating, “I was worried I screwed Bubba’s lap up. Today was unexpected. The pace was not what we anticipated. I am relieved it turned out as it did; tomorrow promises a great track position for us.” Reddick’s pole position was the second at COTA, underlining his supremacy on road courses.
However, there was a twist in the tale as 23XI’s hopes of dominating the top three were dashed when Riley Herbst’s third-fastest qualifying time was disqualified due to track limit violations. He finished 31st, almost a second slower than his teammates. In another development, Chase Elliott put on a remarkable performance and will start the race in P3 in the second row.
This narrative is still unfolding, and further updates are anticipated. Stay tuned for the latest developments in this thrilling saga of Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team, 23XI Racing.
