Tyler Reddick Secures Darlington Pole as Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing Dominates

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing continued its impressive start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, securing the top two starting positions at Darlington Raceway. Tyler Reddick, the 2026 Daytona 500 winner, qualified for Sunday’s 400-mile race with a lap speed of 169.152 mph , earning his 13th career pole position.

Reddick’s Qualifying Run

Despite briefly making contact with the wall while navigating a new car package that presents challenges with higher horsepower and lower downforce, Reddick secured the pole. “I tried to capture it straightforward and just overdid the throttle,” Reddick said. “I kind of knew I was in trouble about a third of the way through, so I just had to hit the wall at that point.” He emphasized the team’s focus on adapting to the new engine adjustments and downforce changes to maintain their competitive edge. “It was a huge focal point with the adjustments to the engine and downforce to stay as strong as we have been the last couple of years. I knew it would be a huge challenge in qualifying today, and it was. I damn near wrecked.”

Wallace Follows in Second

Teammate Bubba Wallace qualified second with a lap speed of 168.434 mph , marking the second front-row sweep for the team co-owned by Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Wallace celebrated the achievement, dedicating his qualifying lap to his newborn daughter, born Thursday.

Points Standings and Other Notable Qualifiers

Reddick and Wallace currently hold the top two positions in the points standings after five races . Chase Elliott qualified third, but faced penalties after his No. 9 Chevrolet failed inspection twice, resulting in the loss of pit selection and the ejection of car chief Matt Barndt. Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five in qualifying. Chris Buescher qualified sixth, but his No. 17 Ford also failed inspection twice, leading to similar penalties for his team.

Looking Ahead

As the race at Darlington approaches, the new car package is expected to present ongoing challenges for drivers and teams. Consistency will be crucial for Reddick and Wallace as they aim to maintain their momentum and championship aspirations . Michael Jordan’s team has demonstrated formidable early-season strength, but the evolving car specifications will continue to test their strategies throughout the championship race.