Tyler Reddick acknowledges that 23XI Racing must deliver strong results at Kansas on Sunday to maintain their position in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. With the playoffs intensifying, Reddick must-win Kansas to have a chance at advancing further, as both he and teammate Bubba Wallace sit near the playoff cut line.
Playoff Pressure Mounts for 23XI Racing at Kansas
During a recent appearance on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Reddick discussed the stakes for him and Wallace heading into the Kansas race. When asked if both drivers face a must-win situation, Reddick responded,
“Are both of them? I don’t know if we both are, but I think it’s very possible that leaving Kansas, one of us will be,”
indicating the precarious positions they hold.
He added that for one driver to gain ground, the other cannot match that performance, stating,
“For one to have a good day and close the gap, the other can’t have as good a day.”
This highlights the delicate balance required within 23XI Racing to secure at least one solid finish.
The playoff standings underscore the urgency: Reddick is 23 points below the cut line, while Wallace trails by 27 points. Earlier in the Round of 16, the team managed to reduce a 20-point deficit, but the challenges multiply in the Round of 12. Reddick admitted,
“I feel like we typically perform pretty well, right? But man, it’s a tough hole. We were able to eliminate a 20-point gap pretty easily in the Round of 16. In the Round of 12, it gets harder. I don’t know.”
Impact of Recent Struggles in New Hampshire
Their current must-win situation is partly the result of a disappointing outing at New Hampshire, where Reddick finished 21st and Wallace 26th. Both results significantly jeopardized their playoff standing.
Reflecting on the race, Reddick expressed his frustration:
“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,”
illustrating how mechanical problems contributed to their poor showing.
He went on to describe how the car’s performance declined rapidly, saying,
“The balance went away, and then next thing you know, we were trying to battle for 20th. Just a terrible day. 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.”
Season Context and What Lies Ahead
Despite the struggles, Reddick has already secured his playoff spot through accumulated Cup points, while Wallace earned his berth after winning the Brickyard 400 in July. However, neither driver has claimed a victory this season, increasing the pressure to perform at Kansas.
The upcoming race will be pivotal for 23XI Racing, testing their ability to overcome recent setbacks and deliver results under pressure. A strong Kansas performance could shift momentum in their favor, while failure to improve may end their playoff runs sooner than hoped.
