Kansas City, Kan.—Tyler Reddick’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff hopes are precariously close to fading following a challenging weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Despite a strong qualifying performance and early stage points, the No. 45 Toyota team struggled late in the race. This pattern of fading after promising starts has marked much of Reddick’s uneven 2025 season.
After finishing 21st at Loudon, Reddick candidly described his mood as “concerned,” acknowledging the ongoing frustrations that have kept him out of contention as the playoffs progress.
Early Speed Falters During Races
Reddick’s qualifying pace remains respectable, maintaining an average starting position around 12.2, which is only slightly off from his previous years driving for 23XI Racing. At New Hampshire, he started strong with a fourth-place qualifying effort and accumulated early stage points after 72 laps. However, once the race progressed, his car fell off the competitive pace once again.
Reflecting on the frustrating trend, Reddick said,
“This year has been head-scratching. Places we’re good at, we run like crap at. I don’t know what to think right now.”
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
This ongoing issue of strong starts but diminishing results has haunted his bid to advance in the playoffs. Despite consistent speed in qualifying, his average finish remains three positions lower than where he starts, signaling difficulty in maintaining race pace and adapting to changing track conditions.
Playoff Position Remains Precarious Ahead of Kansas
With only two races remaining before the Round of 8 cutoff, Reddick sits 23 points below the playoff cut line. His recent struggles reflect a harsher reality after a season that began with promise but has seen no wins so far in 2025. His performance thus far stands in stark contrast to 2024, when he secured two wins and claimed the regular-season title.
The upcoming race at Kansas Speedway offers a vital opportunity to regain momentum. Reddick has had mixed results there, with an average finish above 20 in recent visits, yet Kansas remains a track where he has tasted victory. He was the last Toyota driver to win the fall race at Kansas in 2023, a fact that gives the team hope heading into this decisive outing.
Team History and Changing Dynamics at Kansas Speedway
The Toyota camp once dominated Kansas Speedway, especially with 23XI Racing’s Camrys collecting three straight wins. Recently, however, Chevrolet has turned the tide, with Kyle Larson winning the last two spring races and Ross Chastain the defending champion of the Hollywood Casino 400.
Reddick reflected on the changes, stating,
“We had a stretch here where it was a 23XI Toyota or a Toyota car in general, we had a pretty good record here to be able to win races. I look at the last two or three times we’ve been here we’ve been missing a little bit of something.”
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
He added,
“The car changes, the Goodyear tires change, so naturally you’ve got to keep up with it. I think it’s fair to be nervous. There’s a lot that weighs on this weekend that it’s super important for us to either win or run top-five all day and score a lot of points.”
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
These technical shifts have complicated the team’s efforts to recapture past success, increasing pressure on Reddick and his crew to adapt quickly in a tight playoff battle.
An Uphill Battle on Intermediate Tracks
Despite having three career wins on 1.5-mile tracks, Reddick continues to search for a strong showing on similar circuits in 2025. His first top-20 finish on an intermediate track remains elusive this year, highlighting the difficulties faced by the No. 45 team in translating qualifying speed into race day results.
Still, optimism lingers given the speeds the team has shown earlier in weekends. Reddick remarked on the challenge ahead:
“You look at other mile-and-a-half tracks this year, and we’ve brought cars capable of winning races at those tracks. It’s been since Charlotte Motor Speedway (May) since we’ve had a true mile and-a-half race, so there’s been a lot of time for things to change, for people to catch up and people to fall behind.”
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
He acknowledged the added pressure, saying,
“I think that just adds to the nerves of the weekend to see how we perform when we get to the race track.”
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
Pressure Builds as Playoffs Intensify
Reddick’s candid assessments underline the intensity and anxiety surrounding this critical juncture of the NASCAR Cup playoffs. With the playoffs sharpening focus on every point and every position, the margin for error is razor thin. Reddick’s persistence in qualifying well shows potential, yet the struggle to sustain competitiveness over race distances continues to weigh heavily on the team.
The upcoming race at Kansas Speedway represents a pivotal moment. Success there could revitalize Reddick’s campaign, propelling him into the Round of 8 and keeping his championship aspirations alive. Conversely, faltering again may spell the end of his run this season, emphasizing how much is at stake during these final events.
