Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Prodigy Reveals How His Biggest Dream Came True in a “Spectacularly Crashing Fashion”

Recently, 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick spoke to ex-NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace. The #45 star is currently gearing up for his first visit to the North Wilkesboro Speedway in the Cup Series. In their conversation, the two touched upon a variety of topics, including but not limited to Reddick’s early career.

After all, every NASCAR driver had to kick-start their dream career somewhere, all before working their way up to the top in the Cup Series arena.

Making an appearance on the Kenny Wallace show, Reddick told the veteran, “I was racing a lot with Lucas Oil. Trying to hit all the big events, running late models. Through doing all that, got connected to your good friend Ken Schrader. He used to be like, ‘come hop in my stock car’ and we worked it out.”

“I got to run a couple of races with him on the ARCA side. Mobile, Alabama was my first ever asphalt race. Then we went to Salem and I got to run that race as well. I was pretty much a fish out of water for those races. Certain things were there, but just understanding asphalt racing, in general, is very different.”

The NASCAR driver recalled one significant race in his career

Michael Jordan’s driver then recalled one significant K&N Pro race at the Rockingham Speedway. Once again, he was sharing driving duties with Schrader, and the rookie was in the form of his life. That form continued when Reddick stuck his car in the Top 5 in qualifying. Later on, he proved that it was not a fluke, as he stayed in the Top 5 for the entire race. He confessed that in the first half of the race, he chose to simply bide his time.

However, when the second half of the race got underway, he slowly made himself a threat. From fifth place, he sneaked to fourth and eventually found himself in the Top 3.

Reddick reminisced, “I remember 20 laps to go, getting around Corey LaJoie. This may be of no shock to you, but I started moving off the bottom. I got to the point where the tires got so hot, I couldn’t hit the bottom anymore. So I said scr*w it, I’m just going to go. I’m just gonna start moving up the race track, start trying to hit the wall in three, four, one and two. Just kept moving up and moving up and ran out Brett Moffitt and won that race on the final lap. In a pretty spectacular crashing fashion, you know.”

READ MORE: Michael Jordan & Denny Hamlin Get Snubbed as Their NASCAR Driver Names His Role Models—“Latched Onto What Lewis Hamilton Does”

Tyler Reddick admitted that this was a turning point for him

Reddick further added, “That was kind of the day that changed everything and it got me lined up with Brad Keselowski on a part-time schedule. Had my three years in the Truck, had enough success to land a part time gig at Chip Ganassi Racing. My first year there, which helped propel me to Jr Motorsports. Winning the championship there, then RCR. From that point on, everyone kind of knows I was at RCR, Cup whatever.”

“That was kind of the journey, the asphalt journey got kick-started by Schrader and his group, them willing to work with someone as green as I was.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Tyler Reddick Announces That Chase Elliott Fiasco “Puts All the Drivers in a Very Weird Spot”

From that moment on, his rise has been fairly steady in the Cup Series. He already has one Cup win under his belt in the 2023 season, securing his Playoff berth. Whether that will make him a championship threat is anybody’s guess.