Tyler Reddick is hoping for an uneventful offseason this year.
The 29-year-old NASCAR driver feels it has been quite some time since he experienced a truly restful break during the sport’s three-month pause. His last “break” turned out to be extremely chaotic.
Reddick found himself in the spotlight due to a legal dispute involving his 23XI Racing team, co-owned by NASCAR standout Denny Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan, along with the governing body of NASCAR.
Last fall, 23XI and Front Row Motorsports initiated an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, contesting the charter system which guarantees starting positions for 36 cars in every race. One of the important points raised in the lawsuit was that Reddick, who claimed the title of regular-season Cup Series champion last year, would become a free agent if the team lost its charter.
A judge recently ruled in favor of the teams, which will allow them to participate with recognized charters in 2025. However, as Reddick shifts his focus to the upcoming Daytona 500 happening on February 16, the legal issues are still on his radar.
“I wouldn’t say it was uncomfortable, but I was definitely keeping an eye on it,” Reddick mentioned. “Throughout the process, I never reached a point of discomfort. I have immense faith in our ownership and their plan for us. That’s precisely why I joined this team and remain committed to it. But I must admit, it did catch my attention during the offseason.”
No doubt it was a stressful situation. Yet, could it potentially distract a rising talent like Reddick, who is gearing up for his third season with 23XI?
“The vibes are positive,” he commented. “Everyone is focused and preparing for the new season. From that perspective, I feel quite content.”
This optimistic outlook is well-deserved. Reddick clinched three victories in 2024 and was among the final four teams vying for the championship in the season finale. Although he found it challenging to compete with the eventual champion, Joey Logano, finishing sixth at Phoenix Raceway and securing the fourth spot in the standings, there were many highlights during his season.
Adding to his joy, Reddick married his long-term partner, Alexa, and just last month, they announced they are expecting their second child in June.
“What could possibly top this?” he joked. “Winning the Daytona 500 would be fantastic.”
That statement isn’t far-fetched, considering Reddick triumphed in two superspeedway events in 2024, including one at Talladega in April and another during the qualifying Duels at Daytona last February.
“Just taking it step by step,” he remarked. “Speedway racing has presented its challenges for me in the past. There are countless variables at play, and it’s still a continual learning process. … Completing the 500 race would be a good start for me. I did finish one year, but I was several laps down. If I can finish on the lead lap this time — I realize that’s quite ambitious — it would set a positive tone for the season.”
Reddick carries some momentum as he approaches Speedweeks. He secured a sixth-place finish in the season-opening Clash, an exhibition race at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina, after consistently being a top competitor throughout the event.
“Denny said it best: Tyler just knows how to extract more speed from a car than most drivers,” noted Hamlin. “That’s an oversimplification, but he’s also improved his race management skills over time, which is crucial. He has learned to maintain his performance even when the car isn’t the strongest.”
Reddick has also discovered how to better navigate the offseason challenges.
His first child was born in January 2020, just a month before his rookie season in the Cup Series. The subsequent offseason was busy with tests for the introduction of the new Gen car. In 2022, he was involved in critical negotiations to transition from Richard Childress Racing to 23XI.
Last year’s offseason involved adapting to his new team after a sudden exit from RCR. In 2024, he spent his time acclimating to the new state-of-the-art 114,000-square-foot race shop of 23XI, known as “Airspeed.”
However, this year has been more intense due to the ongoing lawsuit uncertainties, the upcoming addition to his family, and the introduction of a third car at 23XI, the No. 35 Toyota driven by Riley Herbst.
“There’s been a lot of change and growth. We’ve faced various challenges,” Reddick stated. “Maybe that’s simply part of life. It certainly makes this offseason fly by; it hardly even feels like we’re taking a break anymore.”
