Tyler Reddick finds himself under intense pressure as he approaches the next race at Kansas Speedway, needing a critical victory to remain competitive in the NASCAR playoffs. After another disappointing finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he placed 21st, Reddick is now 23 points behind the cutline in the Round of 12, making the upcoming Kansas race a must-win situation for the 23XI Racing driver.
Playoff Standings and Remaining Races Create Urgency
With only two races left in this playoff round—the Kansas Speedway event and the Charlotte Roval—the stakes could not be higher for Reddick. While he technically has two opportunities left to advance, the dominance of Shane van Gisbergen on road courses, especially on tracks like Charlotte’s Roval, lowers his chances significantly. Van Gisbergen’s proven success on road courses this season means that Reddick likely cannot rely on a comeback there. Consequently, the Kansas race represents his best chance to close the points gap and advance.
Reddick’s Candid Assessment of the Situation
In a recent appearance on the Door, Bumper, Clear podcast, Reddick acknowledged the pressure not only on himself but also on his teammate, Bubba Wallace. He stated,
“I think it’s very possible that leaving Kansas, one of us will be.” – Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Driver
He explained the shared challenge the two drivers face in trying to perform well enough to avoid elimination, adding,
“For one to have a good day and close the gap, the other can’t have as good a day. I don’t know. I feel like we typically perform pretty equally well, right? But man, it’s a tough hole. You know, we were able to eliminate a 20-point gap pretty easily in the Round of 16. In the Round of 12, it gets harder.” – Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Driver
Playoff Pressure Intensifies for Both Drivers
Bubba Wallace currently sits at the bottom of the playoff standings, trailing by 27 points, placing both 23XI Racing drivers in precarious positions. Reddick faced the reality that if neither driver delivers a strong performance at Kansas, their chances at the Charlotte Roval will be extremely limited. He reasoned,
“We would have to have almost a strong enough day where we were in contention to win all day long but didn’t win.” – Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Driver
Because only exceptional skills at road courses can generate enough points to make a late-stage comeback—as van Gisbergen’s success demonstrates—both drivers acknowledge the difficulty of the task ahead. For Reddick, putting all his efforts into Kansas appears to be the most practical path forward in this playoff round.
Implications for the Playoffs and 23XI Racing
Reddick’s must-win status heightens the drama for the upcoming Kansas race, as his future in the playoffs is directly dependent on his performance this weekend. Success here could keep his championship hopes alive heading into Charlotte, while falling short may end his run. The pressure also extends to Wallace, whose position creates additional challenges for 23XI Racing in advancing both drivers further.
As the playoffs narrow, the performance of these drivers will have major implications not only for their individual seasons but for their team’s standing as well. Fans and analysts alike will watch Kansas closely to see if Reddick can meet the demanding expectations and avoid elimination from the championship pursuit.
