Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway saw mounting frustration for Tyler Reddick, whose struggles with restarts became a costly setback for 23XI Racing. Reddick, a key contender expected to compete for a top position, found himself unable to regain the front after early promise, ultimately finishing in 21st place. Despite running all 271 laps, the inability to capitalize on restarts left Reddick outside the top ten for the third consecutive event, intensifying concerns for his playoff prospects.
Denny Hamlin, team owner and experienced driver, shed light on the underlying issues plaguing both Reddick and his teammate Bubba Wallace during a candid discussion on the Actions Detrimental podcast.
There were running fifth and sixth or fourth and sixth,
Hamlin remarked, emphasizing how both drivers were in strong positions before their momentum faltered. He specifically highlighted restart difficulties, adding,
It just seemed like the restarts for the 23XI cars just were not good enough. It didn’t seem like they were great in traffic.
The impact of these restart challenges was unmistakable. For Bubba Wallace, the day ended abruptly after a wreck at Lap 172, causing his car to slide from a promising seventh-place restart to a disappointing 33rd overall. Tyler Reddick, meanwhile, endured a grueling test, unable to recover lost ground and maintain an aggressive push toward the front, a critical flaw at a track where positioning after restarts can determine race outcomes.
Hamlin further analyzed Reddick’s difficulties when pressed about potential alternatives on race day.
I don’t know if it was a car capability thing,
he said. Acknowledging that restart problems aren’t new, Hamlin noted,
I know that they fought restarts a little bit last year. …It’s tough to say. Is it air pressure? It could be all kinds of different things, and we’ll talk about it here later.
The uncertainty surrounding these restart setbacks adds an unsettling dimension to Reddick’s current run, raising pressing questions about the technical direction and adjustments needed moving forward.
The emotional toll was clearly visible among the team. Wallace openly accepted responsibility for his incident, recounting,
We had a nice talk after I got out of the car and they just laid out all the positives that we went through this weekend. So, that’s what we’re going to hold our heads to. I hate that I got into the fence… So hate it for my team and everybody involved.
The disappointment was fueled by the knowledge that, before disaster struck, both Wallace and Reddick were making genuine progress, setting expectations for a far more successful result.
Despite both 23XI Racing drivers demonstrating potential this season, neither Tyler Reddick nor Bubba Wallace has managed a win so far. Even with recent setbacks, both remain securely inside the playoff bubble, with Reddick sitting ninth in the current standings. Still, persistent restart woes and missed chances at Texas suggest urgency: solving these restart complications is now crucial if Reddick aims to transform consistency into championship-caliber performances as the season progresses.
