NASCAR World Dismisses Infighting Rumors Between Michael Jordan’s Drivers After Horrendous Collateral Damage

Being part of the same team, the two 23XI drivers work intimately together to win races. However, they often have conflicts as well on the race track. For instance, around the same time last year, Michael Jordan gave a pep talk to both his drivers at Talladega. However, Bubba Wallace was upset by the end of the race. Tyler Reddick chose not to follow a plan of teamwork, almost knocking Wallace off the elimination round. 

This year, the Dover race faced a similar situation. On lap 328, a massive crash unfolded among four drivers. Tyler Reddick seemed to cause it, but the NASCAR community has a different opinion. 

Tyler Reddick earns stamp of approval from fans

Coming off his fresh victory in Talladega, Tyler Reddick was in high spirits. He recorded the second-fastest speed in the Dover Cup practice, at 158.982 mph. Starting 4th place, Reddick was all set for another high-speed run like last week. However, the Monster Mile bared its teeth towards the end and hampered Reddick’s run.

The initial FOX broadcast presented a doubtful coverage of the crash. Now, Josh Berry’s in-car camera has revealed the real story. In front of Berry’s car, Zane Smith, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace were racing. Then Reddick attempted a three-wide with Wallace spinning, collecting Christopher Bell as well. Officials called a caution, as Wallace’s car sustained heavy damage.

Considering the extent of the crash, rumors were set afloat about further 23XI infighting. After all, Tyler Reddick had admitted earlier this year that his relationship with Wallace was complicated.

However, DBC host Brett Griffin acquitted Michael Jordan’s Talladega star for this mishap. “Been looking at a lot of angles and texting with @FreddieKraft on this …. 45 being aggressive, makes it 3 wide but who is at fault for the actual wreck. They never touch.”

Fans also chimed in along similar lines, siding with Tyler Reddick and suggesting other reasons. “Seems like a racing deal. Something weird with the air maybe?” Some fans said that the circumstances were wrong. “Just a racing deal. Wrong place Wrong time. It sucks.”

Then one fan set aside any chance for a 23XI battle, confirming Reddick’s innocence. “Just racing, drivers driving to pass, that’s what they’re supposed to do, no fault to be judged, why does everyone need to blame someone. This is what racing is. Brett farming attention.”

Another fan directed the blame toward the car manufacturers instead. “Who’s at fault? Whoever allowed these cars to create this much turbulence and cause a wreck without touching.”

If you jog through memories, last year’s Dover race also witnessed a fiery wreck. And contrary to this Dover encounter, the wrecking driver was not received well.

Chastain angered a fellow driver in Dover

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Unlike Tyler Reddick’s peaceable outcome, Trackhous Racing driver Ross Chastain ruffled some feathers last year. In the 2023 Würth 400 in Dover, Chastain caused a wreck on lap 81. When Brennan Poole was running beside Austin Dillon, Chastain hit the former in the rear bumper, sending him up the track and into Kyle Larson.

Poole, currently a full-time Xfinity driver, was visibly angered by the encounter. “I feel like I just got ran over,” Poole said. “As soon as he (Chastain) ran into me, I just kind of got shoved into the corner, like way too deep, and then I was just immediately turned around.” He further quipped, “He probably needs to get his butt whooped.”

We are thankful that the 23XI encounter did not get so bitter. Yet such conflicts do add spice to NASCAR races.