Over the years, NASCAR has had multiple iconic and hilarious moments, and some of them have stood the test of time. One such moment is that involving Jimmie Johnson’s "golden horseshoe." Bubba Wallace recently referenced that while talking about teammate Tyler Reddick.

Back in 2010, Jimmie Johnson won his 48th career win after holding off Kevin Harvick. This frustrated Harvick, and during the post-race interview, he claimed that Johnson and the No. 48 Hendrick Motrosports had a "golden horseshoe stuck up their a**." This theory has stuck and is often associated with drivers who have had immense luck and have been winning. 

This theory has now been associated with 23XI driver Tyler Reddick after he had a great start to the 2026 Cup season with five wins at the beginning of the season. On a recent episode of the "Door, Bumper, Clear" podcast, Reddick's teammate Bubba Wallace alluded to the theory.

“We figured it out, though, cause Tyler, I forgot where we were, I think we were in Nashville," began Wallace. "So, Tyler bought Jimmy Johnson's old bus. He's been sleeping with a horseshoe up his a**. That's what it was.”

On Sunday, Tyler Reddick had his first DNF of the season after he got caught in the stage 2 melee at Michigan. While talking about the same, Wallace spoke about how his bus has been having issues and was taken away for repairs, hence taking his luck away for the Michigan race. 

“So, yeah, that bus has been having some problems. So I think the mechanics took that horseshoe out,” Wallace added.

However, despite being caught up in the incident, Reddick has a 51-point cushion over Denny Hamlin in second, who ended up winning the race.

Tyler Reddick Explains His Plight at Michigan

Reddick’s race at the FireKeeper’s Casino 400 was off to a great start as he won the first stage of the race. However, things took a turn during the second stage.

The misfortune hit on a lap 84 restart when Carson Hocevar hit John Hunter Nemechek while trying to make a move. This triggered a big nine-car pile-up, which caught the championship points leader as he went spinning and backed into the wall. While talking to Motorsport.com after being released from the medical center, he said:

"I got clipped. Backed it into the wall, unfortunately. I was trying not to back it into the wall, but that happened; we kind of bounced off of it. Guys were trying to miss other cars, and unfortunately, Austin had nowhere to go. That kind of finished the car off." 

This incident ended Reddick's hopes of extending his driver's championship points lead. Whatever "Golden Horseshoe" conspiracy Wallace joked about seems to have run its course for Reddick. 

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak