Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, addressed concerns about his struggles during the 2025 season in a recent interview. Speaking with Freddie Kraft, Bubba Wallace’s spotter, on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Reddick compared his current season to his highly successful 2024 campaign, emphasizing that the decline is not as dramatic as some suggest.
Last year, Reddick secured three wins, twelve top-five finishes, twenty-one top-ten finishes, and an impressive twenty-six top-20 placements. He also made history by becoming the first 23XI Racing driver to reach the Championship Four race in 2024. However, as the NASCAR Cup Series enters the second race of the Round of 12, Reddick is still searching for his first victory of 2025. Despite this, he pushed back against the notion of a major downturn.
Reddick Responds to Criticism Over His 2025 Performance
During their conversation, Kraft asked Reddick whether he noticed people labeling the year as a “down year” for him and the team. Reddick replied thoughtfully:
“When you get in the details of it. Yeah, we’re a little we haven’t performed quite like we did last year, but it’s not like to a astronomical level.”
Freddie Kraft contributed a reassuring remark, adding, The sky is not falling. Reddick elaborated on the challenges faced this season, explaining how execution and race cleanliness factor heavily into results:
“When you don’t execute, when you don’t have a clean race, you know, you’re not going to have the opportunity to win races. Uh, and you’re not going to get those top 10s and top fives that you’re able to get, uh, when you have those clean days.”
Currently, Reddick stands 11th in the Cup Series playoff standings, trailing by 23 points below the cutoff line. His 23XI Racing teammate, Bubba Wallace, sits just behind him in 12th place, 27 points below the cutoff, both fighting to advance in the Round of 12.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Shares Concerns About 23XI Racing’s Playoff Prospects
Earlier in September, Dale Earnhardt Jr., former Xfinity Series champion and NASCAR commentator, voiced his opinions about 23XI Racing’s drivers during his Dale Jr. Download podcast. Speaking about Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick’s playoff chances, Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged their efforts but expressed unease over their pace.
Earnhardt Jr. praised Wallace’s improvements in the 2025 season, stating:
“Bubba’s really kind of turned it up another notch this year. Seems like, since Indy, he’s sort of switched into another gear that I’ve never seen him really have before. Deserves to be up there. Can do it. Should be able to do it.” [00:20 onwards]
However, his comments on Reddick were more cautious and reflected concern about the driver’s speed and consistency this season:
“Reddick worries me a little bit. I don’t see the speed that I think that they’re capable of.”
Upcoming Race at Kansas Speedway Poses a Crucial Challenge
The next event for Reddick and Wallace will be the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, September 28. Both drivers have proven their ability to win at this track, with Wallace claiming victory in 2022 and Reddick following in 2023. With the playoff rounds tightening, these wins add pressure and hope as the team aims to solidify their position moving forward.
This race will be pivotal in determining if the 23XI Racing drivers can overcome recent setbacks and regain the momentum that put them among the championship contenders last year. How they perform at Kansas may significantly affect their playoff trajectory as they seek to advance beyond the Round of 12.
