CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick battled a stomach virus throughout last Sunday night’s Southern 500 to eke out a one-point win over Kyle Larson for the regular-season Cup Series championship, he and the 23XI Racing ownership group went to collect the trophy at South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway.
Reddick stood next to the trophy, team co-owner Michael Jordan by his side. Co-owners Denny Hamlin — who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing — and Curtis Polk were on the other side.
Nowhere to be found? A NASCAR executive to present the hardware.
“You know, certainly, pretty disappointed to not see anyone from NASCAR present Tyler his trophy,” Hamlin said.
Was it personal? He didn’t know, but the veteran driver could not recall another time a NASCAR bigwig wasn’t on hand to pass out shiny new hardware.