Reddick's torrid start
Tyler Reddick has won four of the first six Cup races this season and is chasing a fifth after his Darlington triumph — 23XI and Michael Jordan are reportedly in talks to lock him up with a huge contract extension. That hot start has already shifted the title narrative and contract priorities in NASCAR. (x.com) (ovalinsider.com) (yardbarker.com)
A malfunctioning alternator forced Reddick to run without a cool suit and prompted a battery swap on pit road that dropped him to the back before he recovered to pass Brad Keselowski for the lead on Lap 266 and pull away by 5.847 seconds at the checkered flag. (nascar.com) That on-air update from Denny Hamlin on Actions Detrimental — “That will be done soon,” and “He deserves everything he gets” — came when Hamlin was asked if he and co-owner Michael Jordan would reward Reddick with a new deal. (yardbarker.com) 23XI originally signed Reddick in July 2022 to a multi-year deal that was announced to begin in 2024, then bought out the remainder of his Richard Childress Racing contract so he could join the No. 45 team early in 2023. (nascar.com) The team’s off-track legal fight with NASCAR concluded with a settlement announced Dec. 11, 2025 that included changes to charter terms and a promise of longer-term stability for charter holders — a development that removes a key contractual uncertainty surrounding driver deals. (nascar.com) Reports leading into this year’s “silly season” had linked Reddick to top organizations such as Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse as potential suitors if he became available, underscoring why 23XI sees urgency in finalizing an extension. (sportscasting.com) Crew chief Billy Scott and co-owner Michael Jordan both praised the team’s composure after the race; the win was Reddick’s 12th career Cup victory and came after a 16.3-second pit stop on the first green-flag stop that cost the team six positions. (nascar.com)
