Tyler Reddick’s 2025 season has been a struggle, despite entering the year as the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion and a Championship 4 contender. As the playoffs advance, Reddick remains without a win, highlighting the ongoing Tyler Reddick 23XI struggles that threaten his team’s postseason chances. After a disappointing Round of 12 start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, concerns are growing over the direction of Reddick’s No. 45 team and its future in the playoffs.
Harvick Expresses Concern Over 23XI Racing’s Performance
Kevin Harvick, a respected voice within NASCAR, weighed in on Reddick’s challenges during the recent Happy Hour podcast. He noted a clear lack of speed from the No. 45 car throughout the season and expressed worry about the team’s current standing. Despite qualifying well at New Hampshire, Reddick’s 21st-place finish marked his fifth race outside the top 10 in six events, signaling a sharp decline from his previous form.
Big trouble. That’s what I read between those lines,
Harvick said.
I think that we’ve talked about the 45 all year and how they haven’t had that speed. You can just tell by his demeanor and the way he’s answering those questions, the way he’s swaying back and forth, there’s just a lot of things that scream I’m pissed, I don’t like where we are, I don’t like anything that’s happening. You can point to the lack of speed, you can point to a lot of rumors from around the race team as to what might happen if things go down the path with the lawsuit.
Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Commentator
Harvick further emphasized that the issues go beyond just poor speed, describing Reddick as a deeply unhappy driver and highlighting the poor performances from both 23XI Racing cars during the recent event.
So, I just think there’s a number of things in that interview and the things that he says — the speed is one of them, it’s everything. I don’t think you can get away from that. Those cars were awful this weekend. The 23 and the 45 were awful compared to what we expect out of them, and the 45 hasn’t had any speed all year. That is an unhappy driver. Very, very unhappy.
Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver and Commentator
Recent Results Highlight Ongoing Difficulties at New Hampshire
The struggles of both 23XI Racing playoff contenders were evident in New Hampshire, where Bubba Wallace finished 26th and described the day as a “miss all around.” At this point, Reddick and Wallace find themselves 11th and 12th in the playoff standings, respectively, entering the next event at Kansas Speedway. This situation raises alarms for 23XI Racing as they look to improve in the remaining playoff races.
Reddick has historically been strong at Kansas, having won there in September 2023. However, the current lack of speed has left him unable to replicate that success, which is especially troubling as the playoffs narrow down the field.
I didn’t expect that; that’s for sure. The way the race started I thought we were going to be able to run in the top 10 all day, but between the brake issues we had, and it just got away quick. The balance went away and then next thing you know we were trying to battle for 20th. Just a terrible day,
Reddick said.
Yeah, there’s just a lot of question marks, honestly. Places we have had speed at, we don’t bring speed. That’s been one of them for us. Yeah, we need something special to happen. I’m hoping we find the answer.
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
Challenges Casting a Shadow Over 23XI’s Playoff Hopes
Throughout the 2025 season, Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 car has been notably slower than expected, a stark contrast to the raw speed that helped him achieve a strong playoffs run the previous year. This significant downturn has created a tense atmosphere within the team, with off-track distractions like lawsuit rumors adding to the pressure. Reddick’s visible frustration reflects the high stakes as 23XI Racing strives to turn their campaign around.
With the playoff battle intensifying, the team must improve their performance swiftly. Kansas Speedway will be a crucial venue where Reddick will need not only better speed but also a stable car and setup to regain competitiveness. The outcome there could very well determine how long 23XI remains in championship contention.
Outlook for the Remainder of the Playoffs
As the playoffs progress, the continued absence of speed for Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 car threatens to derail any hopes of a championship run. Kevin Harvick’s critical observations underline the severity of this slump and the urgency for 23XI Racing to diagnose and fix the underlying issues. For Reddick, who once showed great promise with top finishes and a regular season title, the upcoming races will be a test of resilience and team strength.
Fans of NASCAR and followers of the Tyler Reddick 23XI struggles will be watching Kansas closely, hoping the team finds the answers needed to avoid an early playoff exit. Success there could spark a turnaround, while continued difficulties risk ending their season prematurely.
