Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing team made a big announcement Tuesday, confirming that Tyler Reddick will be driving for them in 2024.
Always preparing for the future. The build continues…@TylerReddick – Locked in for 2024 🔐
𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙀𝘿 #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/tycZ2aSR6g
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) July 12, 2022
Reddick will join Bubba Wallace and Kurt Busch on the 23XI Racing team, which partners with Joe Gibbs Racing. This is a surprise knowing that, as of now, JGR doesn’t have a sponsor for Busch with Mars ending their relationship.
The team also announced they plan to bring back Bubba Wallace. 23XI Racing president Steve Laluta said Wallace’s deal may only be for one year, while negotiations are on in the works to extend Busch’s contract with the team.
23XI Racing's Steve Lauletta reiterated that both Bubba Wallace and Kurt Busch will be back in 2023. Wouldn't say if their deals end in 2023. TBD if Reddick will be in a third car or the 23 or 45 in 2024.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 12, 2022
Wallace’s highest finish this year was second at the Daytona 500, but for the most part, due to issues with his pit crew, Bubba has struggled a lot this season.
JGR made a change in Wallace’s pit crew before last Sunday’s race in Atlanta, swapping some members of his team for Christopher Bell’s. Wallace finished 14th in that race while his former crew made some errors for Bell.
Wallace’s biggest victory so far came last year when he became the first African-American driver to win the Talladega 500, which elevated his status in the NASCAR world. And while he still faces some ups and downs, it’s clear that his owners want to at least give him one more year to prove himself. What comes after that for him and Kurt Busch remains to be seen.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.