Tyler Reddick will race with a distinctive Michael Jordan-themed paint design this Sunday, July 6, at the Grant Park 165 Cup Series event in Chicago. This special livery represents a nod to Jordan’s legendary <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA career and his role as co-owner of 23XI Racing, the team Reddick drives for in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The Grant Park race covers 75 laps on Chicago’s famous street circuit and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports from 2 pm ET, with radio coverage available through MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Currently sixth in the driver standings for the 2025 season, Reddick is seeking his first victory this year after securing four top-five finishes, including a fourth-place result last week in Atlanta.
Background on Tyler Reddick and his 2025 Season Performance
Tyler Reddick, a two-time Xfinity Series champion, is in his sixth full Cup Series season and competes in the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing under a multi-year deal running through the end of 2025. Before this weekend’s race in Chicago, Reddick boasts six top-10 finishes and is aiming to convert consistent performances into a maiden win this season.
The California native’s average finishing position at Chicago stands at 15.0 in his prior two starts on the street circuit, making Sunday’s event his third attempt to improve on that track record. The special Michael Jordan-inspired design pays homage to the team’s co-owner and connects NASCAR fans with one of basketball’s most iconic figures.
Highlight: Reddick’s Historic Front Row Achievement with 23XI Racing
Earlier this year, Reddick earned his tenth career pole position during the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). Clocking a lap time of 1:38.076 at 88.095 mph, he outpaced his 23XI teammate Bubba Wallace by 0.224 seconds to secure the front-row start.
This achievement marked 23XI Racing’s first-ever front row sweep, a milestone for the organization. Reddick praised his team after initially struggling in practice but managing significant improvements to the car’s performance.
“All in all, just I think today really threw us for a loop, the pace was nowhere what we thought it was going to be, and everyone here on this No. 45, and everybody at 23XI really had to go to work on our Toyota Camry’s, and we made massive improvements I think from practice one to practice two,” Tyler Reddick said in a statement (quoted by Racing America).
“Just really glad the day went like it did, it’s going to be great track position for us tomorrow,” he added.
Reddick finished third in the race and led nine laps overall, while Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing took the win. Other top results included William Byron in second, Chase Elliott in fourth, and Kyle Busch in fifth place.
Significance of the Chicago Race and What’s Ahead for Reddick
Sunday’s Grant Park 165 is an important opportunity for Tyler Reddick to leverage his consistent season results and secure his first victory of 2025. The unique Michael Jordan paint scheme not only celebrates the connection between 23XI Racing and its co-owner but also draws attention to Reddick’s growing presence in the NASCAR Cup Series.
As the season progresses, Reddick’s performance in Chicago could offer momentum heading into upcoming races, where he aims to continue improving his standings and contend for wins. Fans and commentators alike will watch closely to see if this combination of skill and inspiration from a basketball legend will boost his chances on the challenging street circuit.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Tyler Reddick get 0 points?
A. On May 16, NASCAR penalized the No. 45 team with a 10-point deduction for using unapproved weights found during inspection before qualifying at Darlington. During the playoffs, Reddick secured a win at Kansas, allowing him to move to the Round of 12. However, he was eliminated after the Round of 8.