This year, Tyler Reddick’s 2025 performance struggles have drawn attention as his results have declined compared to 2024. Kevin Harvick recently pointed to the expansion of the 23XI Racing team as a significant factor behind Reddick’s difficulties on the track this season.
Examining Reddick’s Decline Amid Team Expansion
Tyler Reddick began the season strong alongside teammate Bubba Wallace, both collecting numerous stage points early on. However, Reddick’s momentum soon cooled, while Wallace managed to break through by winning the Brickyard 400. Reddick’s inconsistency has been marked by seven Did Not Finish (DNF) outcomes this season, which have severely hindered his points standing. Had the 23XI team avoided these DNFs, Reddick might still be a strong contender in the championship race.
Kevin Harvick shared his observations during a recent Happy Hour podcast episode, highlighting a puzzling contrast between the team’s speed and their actual results. Despite Reddick’s car showing competitive speed—placing fifth in average speed over the first 26 weeks—the results have not matched that pace due to execution issues and some on-track incidents that further impacted performance.
Harvick noted,
“It’s really confusing. When you look at the speed chart average for the first 26 weeks, he ranks fifth. So, they have speed, but they don’t execute. They don’t turn it into anything. But to me, it doesn’t feel like he’s had that top-five speed when I watch the races. And I know he got tore up again this weekend.”
Resource Challenges from Expanding to Three Teams
Harvick attributed part of the ongoing struggles to the complexities linked with the 23XI Racing team’s growth this year. The addition of a third car means that resources—both personnel and technical support—must be divided across more vehicles, which can disrupt an established workflow and impact overall team performance.
He offered insight on the operational strain, saying,
“I think when you look at 23XI, obviously, they have a lot going on off the racetrack, but on the racetrack, they added another car, and any time you expand it’s going to take some time to spread those resources out to be able to understand the flow of your company and know where the holes are of where to get those details,”
Harvick explained.
“So, I always look at expansion as somewhat of a disruption to a team. To be able to maintain at a high level of winning is tough. Because of the things that change. So, if I were going to point my finger at one thing, I would point towards expanding to three teams. That would be my guess.”
Comparisons with Bubba Wallace and Team Context
While Reddick continues to wrestle with his 2025 struggles, Bubba Wallace, also driving for 23XI, has seen a resurgence despite a mid-season lull. Wallace’s ability to recover and secure a win at the high-profile Brickyard 400 demonstrates the potential within the team, even amid growing pains. However, Harvick expressed skepticism about Reddick’s current status as a championship contender due to the inconsistency and setbacks he’s experienced.
He remarked,
I really thought they would progress into, especially the way that the 23 car has run. You know, the 23 of Bubba went through a lull there of time, but they got it back and got themselves to Victory Lane, started the year off like gangbusters. It’s not, it’s not been that type of year like we saw last year out of Tyler Reddick. So, not hard to do. You don’t have to miss by much to not be in that category anymore. But they just, to me, don’t feel like contenders at this point.
Implications for Reddick and 23XI Racing Moving Forward
The combination of logistical challenges from expanding to three cars and Reddick’s on-track setbacks points to a transitional phase for 23XI Racing. The disruptions caused by team growth can delay consistent top-tier performances, which might explain the incongruity between Reddick’s speed and his race outcomes this season.
Looking ahead, the team’s ability to stabilize its operations and optimize resource distribution will be crucial for reversing Tyler Reddick’s decline in performance. With 23XI Racing managing the balancing act of supporting three competitive entries, the pressure remains on for Reddick to regain his form and for the team to avoid the costly DNFs that have plagued their campaign.
