During the NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Roval, 23XI Racing drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace faced a critical setback, resulting in their elimination from the Round of 12. Both drivers were battling to advance in a must-win situation on a road course favoring Shane van Gisbergen, but unfortunately, neither could secure the necessary results to continue.
Tyler Reddick had an opportunity to advance by points, especially as competitor Joey Logano, who was also on the playoff bubble, finished 20th. However, despite winning the pole position, Reddick was unable to maneuver through traffic late in the race, finishing 10th and missing safety by 14 points. Bubba Wallace finished 15th, also falling short of advancing further in the playoffs.
Reddick Details What Led to 23XI’s Round of 12 Setback
In a post-race interview with Frontstretch, Tyler Reddick attributed the team’s playoff exit mainly to their poor performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway earlier in the round. He explained that 23XI Racing struggled to adapt to the new tire compound used there, which undermined their momentum gained from the previous Round 16 races.
“I don’t think so. I mean, when you look at the three races, we just certainly missed the mark as a company at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That was a different tire that we haven’t had there before, and we just missed the mark in the first race and got behind on points.”
— Tyler Reddick, Driver
The struggles at New Hampshire set the stage for the challenges 23XI faced at the Charlotte Roval, where both drivers needed strong finishes to move on but failed to maximize their potential on the course.
Race Execution and Missed Opportunities at Charlotte Roval
During the Charlotte event itself, Reddick explained that their race strategy was focused on winning rather than accumulating points, which ultimately backfired. He said the race mostly unfolded as planned but acknowledged that some poor restarts hurt their chances. Despite prioritizing a victory, they could not keep pace with leaders such as Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell.
“I don’t know if anything necessarily went wrong today. For how the race was playing out, we wanted to prioritize setting up to win the race. I think you could pick apart a couple of restarts and whatnot, but the race just kind of unfolded.”
— Tyler Reddick, Driver
Reddick’s long-run performance did not match that of the top competitors during the final stage. After “going long” in hopes of a late-race caution, he lost several positions. This approach, while aiming to seize an advantage from a caution flag, ultimately failed to improve his standing.
“Our long run wasn’t where it needed to be with the top guys, and in stage three, we just didn’t make the progress we needed to. We kind of went long, hoping for a caution there, and lost a lot of spots, but at the end of the day, we were trying to set ourselves up for a caution late.”
— Tyler Reddick, Driver
Reflection on the Team’s Playoff Strategy and What Could Have Changed
Looking back, Reddick mentioned that had the team prioritized securing points over chasing a race win, they might have avoided elimination. His crew chief, Billy Scott, noted they missed advancing by a slim margin of 14 points. Even so, Reddick emphasized that the team executed their plan as best they could under the circumstances.
“Looking back on it, my crew chief Billy Scott mentioned we were only out by 14 points. Maybe we could have chased points a little bit harder today. A few things to look back on, but coming into this, we played it the way we should have.”
— Tyler Reddick, Driver
These remarks reveal Reddick’s acknowledgment that a slightly different tactical approach during the Round of 12, especially at the Roval and New Hampshire, could have extended their playoff run. Both he and Wallace remain contenders who, if better executed, would have been strong candidates for the Round of 8.
Maintaining Team Morale Despite Playoff Disappointment
Despite the elimination, Reddick expressed pride in 23XI Racing’s resilience throughout a challenging playoff stretch. The team’s resolve remains intact even in the face of missing advancement to the next round, signaling their ongoing commitment to competing at the highest level.
“.@TylerReddick is still proud of the team’s resolve despite getting eliminated from the Round of 12. #NASCARPresenting partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/LF0yFmOqlD”
— Frontstretch, NASCAR Outlet
The situation underscores the fine margins present in NASCAR’s playoff structure, where a combination of strategic decisions, race-day execution, and adapting to new conditions like tire changes can dramatically affect outcomes.
The Road Ahead for Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing
Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace’s exit from the Round of 12 means that 23XI Racing must regroup and analyze missteps to prepare better for future playoff runs. Both drivers will carry the lessons from this round to improve their adaptability and race strategies in upcoming events.
While the current playoff disappointment weighs heavily, the team’s experience with changing tire dynamics and race tactics will be invaluable moving forward. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how 23XI Racing addresses these challenges as the NASCAR season progresses.
.@TylerReddick is still proud of the team’s resolve despite getting eliminated from the Round of 12. #NASCAR
Presenting partner: @MyPlaceHotels pic.twitter.com/LF0yFmOqlD— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) October 6, 2025
