Tyler Reddick addresses Michael Jordans interaction with his child at NASCAR race after huge backlash

In the high-octane world of professional motorsports, few stages are as grand as Victory Lane at the Daytona 500. On February 15, 2026, Tyler Reddick stood in that hallowed space, having just delivered a historic win for 23XI Racing. However, what should have been a pure celebration of a career-defining achievement was quickly complicated by the relentless lens of social media. A brief, televised interaction between NBA legend and team co-owner Michael Jordan and Reddick’s six-year-old son, Beau, sparked a viral debate that forced the champion driver to step forward and clarify a moment that he insists was nothing more than a shared family joy.

The victory itself was the stuff of NASCAR legend. Driving the No. 45 Toyota, Reddick navigated a chaotic final lap, surging past Chase Elliott with a critical push from teammate Riley Herbst to claim the checkered flag. For Jordan, who co-owns the team alongside Denny Hamlin, the win was a monumental milestone. The basketball icon, who has often likened the thrill of racing to his six NBA championships, was visibly ecstatic, bear-hugging his driver and jointly hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy. It was 23XI Racing’s first Daytona 500 victory, and it arrived just days before Jordan’s 63rd birthday, a gift he described as “gratifying” and “championship-caliber.”

Yet, as the champagne sprayed and confetti rained down, cameras captured a candid moment between Jordan and young Beau Reddick. In the clip, Jordan can be seen reaching toward the back of Beau’s T-shirt, making small pinching motions, and briefly grazing the back of the child’s legs. Within hours, the footage was dissected across social media platforms. While many viewers saw a playful, grandfatherly gesture in the heat of a chaotic celebration, a vocal minority raised questions about the optics, with some commenters labeling the interaction as “weird” or “inappropriate.” The digital backlash grew so significant that it began to overshadow the historical significance of the race itself.

On February 17, 2026, Reddick addressed the controversy directly during a high-profile interview on The Stephen A. Smith Show on SiriusXM. His response was a masterclass in perspective, firmly dismissing the internet’s scrutiny in favor of the reality he lives every day. “From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI, and I don’t see what other people see when it comes to this,” Reddick stated. His words were a direct rebuff to the cynical interpretations of strangers, grounding the moment in the deep, multi-generational bond that exists between the Jordan and Reddick families.

Context, as Reddick noted, is everything. Those familiar with the team’s inner circle pointed out that the atmosphere in Victory Lane was one of “Daytona madness.” Moments before the viral clip was filmed, Reddick had celebratory doused his son in ice water—a common tradition in the sport. Observers noted that Jordan appeared to be trying to clear ice cubes or wet fabric that had slipped down the back of the child’s shirt, a practical and protective act amidst a messy, high-energy crowd. To Reddick, the interaction was simply “Michael being Michael,” a man who has embraced Reddick’s children as part of his extended racing family.

The driver’s defense of Jordan went beyond a single gesture; it spoke to the culture of the team they have built together. Reddick reflected on the sight of Jordan’s wife, Yvette Prieto, and the entire 23XI group celebrating together, emphasizing that the day was a milestone for both families. “For me, it’s a huge moment; this is the biggest moment of my career,” he told Smith. “It’s a huge moment for my family and for his family, and I just put that [controversy] off to the side.” For a driver who lead only the final lap—the fewest in the race’s history—to win the “Great American Race,” the victory represented the culmination of years of grit and a 38-race losing streak that had finally been snapped.

The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges facing public figures in the digital age, where a three-second clip can be stripped of its context and repurposed for viral debate. While the “court of public opinion” often demands immediate explanations, Reddick’s refusal to engage in the speculation highlighted a different path: choosing to protect the integrity of a personal relationship and a professional triumph. His representatives echoed this sentiment, largely dismissing the outcry as an overreaction born from a lack of familiarity with the people involved.

In the days following the race, the narrative has slowly shifted back to the sporting achievement. Jordan, who turns 63 this week, will receive his Daytona 500 ring—a size 13—marking his transition from a basketball legend to a championship-winning NASCAR owner. For 23XI Racing, the win vindicates the vision Jordan and Hamlin shared when they founded the team in late 2020. They wanted to build a program that could win at the highest level while fostering a tight-knit, family-oriented environment. The sight of Jordan carrying Beau Reddick toward the podium, though scrutinized by some, remains for the team a symbol of that very success.

Ultimately, the story of the 2026 Daytona 500 will be remembered for two things: Tyler Reddick’s clinical last-lap pass and the unbridled joy of a team owner who finally “got his ring” in a second sport. Reddick’s journey—from a “skinny, restless boy” from California to a Daytona champion—mirrors the resilience he showed in the face of the post-race media storm. By standing by Jordan and focusing on the “look of happiness” on the faces of those in Victory Lane, Reddick ensured that the legacy of his greatest win would be defined by the people who helped him achieve it, rather than the voices of those watching from a distance.

As the NASCAR season moves forward, the “Great American Race” of 2026 stands as a testament to the power of belief—belief in a driver, belief in a team, and the belief that a shared moment of victory is worth more than a thousand social media comments. Reddick has made his stance clear: he doesn’t see what the skeptics see. He sees a championship team, a supportive boss, and a family that is finally standing in the winner’s circle.