Denny Hamlin: NASCAR gives Michael Jordan joy in a way nothing else can

Michael Jordan might be a basketball icon, but Denny Hamlin says that nothing can bring him joy like NASCAR can.

Hamlin and Jordan are co-owners at 23XI and are currently celebrating their first-ever win at the Daytona 500 following Tyler Reddick's success on Sunday.

Jordan doesn't make it to all of the races, but he was in attendance in Florida, which meant jubilant celebrations with his driver in victory lane and an interview in which he revealed he was 'ecstatic'.

Denny Hamlin: Michael Jordan 'big' for NASCAR

Naturally, Jordan was a big topic of conversation post-race, and when Hamlin spoke to the media, he was asked just what it means for NASCAR to have such a huge name involved.

Hamlin claimed it was a big deal, but also discussed the passion Jordan has for the team and the joy that NASCAR brings him.

"Well, it’s big for the sport," Hamlin told the media. "He’s the most popular athlete in the world. I don’t think there’s any disputing that.

"He loves the sport, and certainly he goes to a lot of races. Sometimes you don’t even see him, and he’s there. He makes more races than people know.

"But he loves this race team. In that same meeting that we had just a few weeks ago with the team, I reminded them about Talladega and how excited he was on pit road, and I was like, you know, do you guys understand the responsibilities that you have, that you have the power to bring joy to Michael Jordan? You have that power.

"Nobody else can do it. There’s nothing else that can bring him the joy that seeing his team can do. They took it to heart today."

Tyler Reddick on Michael Jordan

The Daytona 500 winner himself also discussed Jordan's happiness when addressing the media.

"It’s very fulfilling," Reddick said on bringing joy to Jordan by winning the race.

"These are the kind of things that I wanted to deliver to Michael, to Denny, to Curtis, to the entire ownership group.

"We didn’t dominate the race today by any means, but in the clutch moments on the final lap, we found a way to deliver.

"I’m very thankful to be in this position, to have the trust of people like Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, to be able to drive the #45, and in these situations deliver."