According to a report from longtime NASCAR journalist Lee Spencer, Tyler Reddick will not have to wait until the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season to drive for 23XI Racing.
On Tuesday, Spencer tweeted that she has heard Reddick’s contract with Richard Childress Racing has been bought out and that Reddick will join 23XI Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Spencer says an announcement is expected this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Here is the tweet from Lee Spencer:
Hearing @TylerReddick ‘s contract has been bought out from @RCRracing and he will join @23XIRacing next year. Announcement expected this weekend at @LVMotorSpeedway #NASCAR
— Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) October 11, 2022
Attempts by TobyChristie.com to obtain a comment or confirmation regarding the report from both Richard Childress Racing and 23XI Racing have gone unanswered at the time of publishing. If answers are received they will be added to this story.
Tyler Reddick shocked the NASCAR world in July when he unexpectedly announced his departure from Richard Childress Racing for the 2024 season. The announcement, which was made in an impromptu appearance during a media zoom call, even took Richard Childress Racing by surprise.
Following the announcement, the RCR Racing Twitter account tweeted a statement that read, “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.”
It was a strange move to announce so early, as it would seemingly put the driver in a lame-duck situation for more than a season in the No. 8 RCR entry.
Then, in September, Richard Childress Racing landed Kyle Busch, who Joe Gibbs Racing had failed to retain for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. At the announcement of Busch’s signing, Childress stated that Busch would move to the No. 8 car.
There was speculation that Childress could release Reddick early to allow him to transition to his new team for the 2023 season, but Childress ended that speculation during the announcement of Busch’s signing by saying Reddick would be shuffled to a third RCR car, which would have a Charter, to be numbered later.
Spencer’s report did not explain whether Reddick would be taking over for Kurt Busch, who has been out of action since July due to a concussion sustained in a qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway or if Reddick would be moving to a third 23XI Racing entry for next season.
That will likely hinge on Kurt Busch’s decision on his driving future.
Regardless, Reddick has had a breakthrough 2022 season by winning three races, the first three NASCAR Cup Series wins of his career. If Reddick does indeed move to 23XI Racing for next season, he bolsters an already strengthening organization, which has won two races already this season in just its second year of existence.
