As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs kick off this weekend, 23XI Racing fields two drivers in the championship hunt: Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45. Wallace stands ninth in the playoff standings after securing his spot with a win at the Brickyard, while Reddick sits 14th, qualifying on points but still searching for his first victory this season. The performance of their pit crews is poised to play a crucial role in their postseason prospects, especially considering the notable contrast between their teams.
Comparing Wallace and Reddick’s strengths and weaknesses
Both Wallace and Reddick enter the playoffs with impressive credentials but differing challenges. Bubba Wallace is one of only two drivers, alongside regular-season champion William Byron, to rank within the top 10 across all five major NASCAR Insights categories: passing, defense, speed, restarts, and pit crew performance. His pit crew, in particular, ranks second overall for the regular season. In contrast, Tyler Reddick excels in passing and speed, ranking fifth and among the best in these areas, but his pit crew performance lags significantly behind, placing 15th. This discrepancy has drawn attention as a potentially decisive factor during the playoffs.
On Inside the Race, analysts Steve Letarte, Alex Weaver, and NASCAR Insights’ Russell Wenrich highlighted the pit crew’s role as a critical weakness for Reddick. Letarte noted,
“I have a list of drivers wrote down that I think are championship four contenders. And at the bottom I have the 45 with a circle and a question mark because I want to make him a championship four contender. But Russell, I don’t know if we’ve seen championship four speed or performance. I mean, we’re winless after 26 for Tyler Reddick,” Letarte said (9:56 onwards).
Wenrich went further into the analysis, underscoring that despite Reddick’s high speed and strong passing abilities, inconsistent pit stops have held him back:
“I have him as like the fifth best car of the year on speed. And his stage points are incredible, too. He scored 167 stage points… So for him it’s they just can’t put it together. Like his pit crew is probably his worst category, when I look at the way I judge these guys. Like he’s fifth fastest on speed. He’s the fourth best at passing. He’s eighth best on restarts, but he’s the 15th best pit crew.”
Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace‘s crew offers a key advantage. Despite dealing with seven DNFs this season and a dip in his average finish from 15.3 in 2024 to 18.9, his pit crew’s efficiency remains a strength that could prove invaluable. Weaver expressed curiosity about the decline in performance for both teams on pit road, stating,
“So, that’s interesting to me, too. The fall off of the 23 and the 45 on pit road. I don’t know where that has gone wrong.” (11:04 onwards)
Reddick’s average finish this year is 15.4, slightly worse than his 12.9 average start. Although he accumulated the fourth-most stage points in the series, costly mistakes on pit road—including a late error at Daytona—have hindered his progress. After a strong start, the 2024 regular-season champion has managed only one top-10 finish in his final six races, raising questions about the consistency of his team’s performance.
Tyler Reddick’s prospects for the playoff opener at Darlington
The playoff opener takes place on August 31 at 6 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway, with the Cook Out Southern 500 marking the beginning of the Round of 16. Known as NASCAR’s toughest track, Darlington’s 367-lap race tests both driver skill and team execution, underscoring the importance of flawless pit stops.
Reddick brings a solid record at Darlington, with 12 career starts that include four top-five finishes, two second-place results, and six top 10s. He has led 319 laps at this South Carolina oval, proving competitive but still lacking a victory to date at the venue.
Analyst Steve Letarte suggested that Reddick could potentially shake up the opening round with a surprise win, emphasizing his talent and the competitiveness of the 23XI cars at challenging tracks:
“So I think Tyler Reddick could get his first win of the season… If you’re asking for what could shockingly happen in round one, that would be the one for me… I think Reddick could win at Darlington. I think it’s a low grip racetrack. 23XI, like we forget how good Bubba was at Richmond… Bubba and Reddick were unbelievable. At least two of the best three cars.” (6:21 onwards)
Darlington may represent a pivotal moment for Reddick to build momentum, but his hopes largely hinge on overcoming his team’s pit crew challenges. Without significant improvement in this area, his likelihood of advancing deep into the playoffs remains uncertain, despite his competitive pace on the track.
Implications for 23XI Racing’s championship ambitions
The 2025 NASCAR playoffs will be a stern test for 23XI Racing, as the contrasting pit crew performances of Wallace and Reddick could shape their title aspirations. Wallace’s reliable pit work complements his consistent all-around skills, while Reddick’s speed and passing must be paired with better pit execution to fully capitalize on his driving talent.
As the opening round unfolds at Darlington, the effectiveness of the pit crews will play an outsized role in determining which driver can maintain or improve their position in the playoff standings. The team’s ability to address Reddick’s pit stop shortcomings may prove key, while Wallace’s pit crew remains a potential edge in his bid for deeper postseason success.
