Tyler Reddick‘s improved NASCAR pit crew performance has become a major asset for 23XI Racing, as the team heads into another challenging race weekend at Michigan International Speedway. With strategic changes and dedicated effort, both Reddick’s and Bubba Wallace’s pit crews have evolved from sources of frustration to two of the top-performing units in NASCAR, underscoring a remarkable journey of growth and adaptation.
From Disappointment to Success on Pit Road
Just three years ago, issues on pit road were a recurring problem for 23XI Racing, leading to public expressions of dissatisfaction by team leaders and drivers alike. A team executive famously posted,
“clean up our messes on pit lane”
—Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing, highlighting the urgent need for improvement and accountability within the pit crews.
Frustration levels peaked during races when botched pit stops cost drivers valuable track position, as witnessed when Bubba Wallace vented his disappointment to crew chief Bootie Barker after a costly mistake in Nashville. The team‘s top executives recognized these challenges and responded with a clear commitment to overhaul operations and end the negative cycle. Notably, Bubba Wallace’s current crew is now ranked first in the series and Tyler Reddick’s crew sits eighth, according to Racing Insights, which measures speed, consistency, track positions gained, and penalties during pit stops.
A Strategic Rebuilding Process
The transformation began with the promotion of Josh Shipplett, a former tire carrier with no background in coaching, to pit coach in 2021. The challenge intensified after 23XI Racing stopped leasing pit crews from Joe Gibbs Racing following the 2022 season. This shift meant Shipplett was now responsible for independently recruiting, organizing, and training a full set of pit crew members for each of the team‘s two cars. The aim was immediate: build teams ready to contend at the front rather than developing raw, inexperienced talent.
The 2022 season marked a turning point for 23XI Racing. As the team continued in its formative stages under the stewardship of co-owners Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, investments focused on foundational speed and structure. But continued pit road struggles, as highlighted by Lauletta’s candid social media statements, made clear that further action was required.
The Drive for Consistency and Speed
Denny Hamlin described the organizational shift with honest optimism:
“It is certainly encouraging to see because we have definitely put a lot of effort into it, not just money, but effort. Whether that be recruiting people, getting (them) to trust us that we have a process.”
—Denny Hamlin, Co-owner, 23XI Racing. The goal was to lay a groundwork for unwavering pit performance, with consistency prioritized over raw speed, in order to minimize race-altering mistakes.
Shipplett, reflecting on the culture set by Hamlin and the owners, explained,
“It started with Denny and ownership allowing us to have the mindset that we need to achieve some kind of consistency before we go for speed (in pit stops),”
—Josh Shipplett, Athletic Director, 23XI Racing. Early on, the team was realistic about expectations, as Shipplett added,
“(The mindset then was) we want to keep the drivers in the races. We know this is a new program. We don’t expect to light the world on fire, but we’re trying to not take it out of the driver’s hands, team’s hands, in any way.”
By focusing first on limiting errors and establishing dependable routines, both pit crews were able to build a solid foundation. Wallace’s unit worked on reducing average variation in pit stop times from half a second to just a quarter. Reddick’s crew, meanwhile, saw their average variation fall to three-tenths of a second. Pinpointing the smallest deviations allowed Shipplett and his team to identify and address specific weaknesses, leading to incremental but crucial gains.
Shipplett observed,
“But whenever you get down to that quarter of a second of deviation, you can kind of pinpoint what exactly the issue is.”
Key Personnel Moves and Their Impact
Personnel adjustments played a pivotal role in the progression of 23XI Racing’s pit crews. Jackman Nathan Ricketts’ transfer from Reddick’s team to Wallace’s created noticeable improvements in performance. Shipplett praised the change, saying,
“As a jackman, he flipped a switch. He was good, he was really good last year. This year, he’s extremely good and he’s gotten extremely consistent. So the rest of the team hasn’t lost any consistency, but now their jackman has gained it.”
The ability of Ricketts to efficiently mount the right front tire created ripple effects through the rest of the pit stop, shaving crucial tenths—and even hundredths—of a second off overall times. Shipplett explained that such small improvements can make a difference in gaining positions on pit road, which is often decisive in tight races.
Reddick’s team also benefited from significant offseason changes. The addition of jackman Brandon Banks from Stewart-Haas Racing, alongside tire changers Devin Lester and Dakota Ratcliff, brought fresh energy and expertise. They joined tire carrier Wade Moore and fueler Brian Dheel to round out a new-look crew with high ambitions. Shipplett articulated the expectations,
“With the way Tyler ran, we … had expected more, we had to have more.”
—Josh Shipplett, Athletic Director, 23XI Racing. He stressed the importance of lifting standards:
“We couldn’t be a 20th-place pit crew (the team ranked 25th in the Racing Insights ratings last year), trying to contend for championships,”
—Josh Shipplett.
Leadership Evolution and Coaching Philosophy
This season also brought a change in the organizational structure, as Shipplett transitioned to the role of athletic director and Jon Carvin was hired as pit crew coach. Carvin, with a substantial background from Hendrick Motorsports and experience in college football, brought fresh training methods and motivational skills to the garage. Shipplett explained the hiring decision:
“We hired Jon because he’s that guy that can enliven the group up and command the locker room, command a timeline, has the practice plan every day,”
—Josh Shipplett. He added,
“So I don’t really attribute a lot of (the progress of the pit crews) to the things I’ve done. It’s just who I’ve been able to hire.”
This collaborative approach has fostered a culture where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, and improvements are continuous. Shipplett and Carvin have emphasized discipline, preparation, and open communication to keep the teams striving for excellence and responding quickly to setbacks.
The Payoff: Results and Reflections
The evolution of the pit crews is now evident in the reduction of on-air criticism and in-race radio outbursts, as fewer errors disrupt race strategies. Wallace, whose frustrations were once public, reflected on the journey,
“Growing up and maturing a little, you look back on the frustrating times and you see that even when you’re screaming and shouting and pissed off, that people are listening and that when they tell you they’re going to fix it, they do,”
—Bubba Wallace, Driver. He acknowledged the time and patience required, saying,
“We’re greedy and we want to fix it in the moment, but you don’t realize it takes a lot of time. Two years, three years, whatever it is, we’re starting to see things be put in place in the right spot. I appreciate everybody on that side of things for stepping up and delivering to allow our players and myself to have good Sundays.”
The improvements have helped both Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace in pursuing more successful races, gaining track positions, and reducing race-day distractions. The transformation also signals to the wider NASCAR community that 23XI Racing is committed to doing the hard work necessary to become a championship contender, not just through driver talent, but by elevating every member of the team—including those behind the pit wall.
What Lies Ahead for 23XI Racing’s Pit Crews
As 23XI Racing continues to build on the momentum of Tyler Reddick’s improved NASCAR pit crew performance, the organization looks set to challenge more established teams deep into the NASCAR calendar. With continual refinements, strong leadership from Denny Hamlin, a strategic approach from Shipplett and Carvin, and the visible commitment of pit crew members, expectations are high for even greater consistency and speed. The lasting impact of this transformation is not just in rankings, but in the confidence the drivers, including Reddick and Wallace, now have in their teams each time they hit pit lane.
