Reddick to stay at RCR through 2023 before moving over to XL23 in 2024.
Icon SportswireGetty Images- This year, Reddick has led 278 laps en route to five top-5s and seven top-10s in the NASCAR Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing.
- His 16 top-10s in 2021 were the most for Childress since Kevin Harvick’s 21 top 10s in 2013.
- The immediate plan is for Reddick to stay with RCR through next year before going to 23XI in 2024.
Two weeks after getting the first NASCAR Cup Series victory of his career, Tyler Reddick said he would leave Richard Childress Racing after 2023 to drive for the Denny Hamlin/Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing team. The immediate plan is for Reddick to stay with RCR through next year before going to 23XI in 2024.
In cases like this, drivers planning to switch teams often leave their current team early rather than spending a lame-duck season before his new ride. Currently, the 23XI Toyota team fields Camrys for journeyman driver Bubba Wallace and former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch. There was no word from 23XI regarding the status of Wallace and Busch, although Hamlin has said he doesn’t expect to have three cars in 2024.
“Announcing a driver over a year before he will be racing with 23XI is a little unprecedented, but Tyler was the driver we wanted and we did not want to miss the opportunity to bring him to our team,” 23XI President Steve Lauletta said. “In making the announcement now, the team has ample time to prepare for 2024 on the business side as we expect interest from potential partners and continue to see strong engagement from our current partners.”
Tyler Reddick (8) races with Michael McDowell at Atlanta.
Icon SportswireGetty Images
Reddick won the 2018 Xfinity Series championship for JR Motorsports and the 2019 title for RCR. Prior to his first Cup career triumph at Elkhart Lake, the 26-year-old had five runner-up finishes in RCR’s No. 8 Chevrolet. This year, he’s led 278 laps en route to five top-5s and seven top-10s. His 16 top-10s in 2021 were the most for Childress since Kevin Harvick’s 21 top 10s in 2013.
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to join this team and look forward to how I can contribute to the organization,” Reddick said on Tuesday, the day of the announcement. “23XI has accomplished a lot in the less than two full seasons they’ve been in the garage, and I can’t wait to be a part of that continued success. Until then, my focus remains on my current team, winning races, and being competitive.”
A statement from RCR said, “We’re proud of the success Tyler Reddick has found at Richard Childress Racing. We’re focused on winning a championship in 2022 and 2023, although timing of this announcement could not be any worse.”
Reddick responded by saying: “It’s always a difficult thing when … our relationship is going to come to an end. But I feel like it gives everyone time what lies ahead; what’s the next step; where do we go from here?
“For me, in my opinion, it’s better to do it now than the playoffs. There’s no reason to kick the can down the road. We know what lies ahead. We all now know what is in front of us and what we need to do.”
Keyword: Tyler Reddick Leaving Richard Childress for Hamlin/Jordan's XL23 NASCAR Cup Team