Kevin Harvick on Reddick 2025 struggles points to team expansion as a key factor behind Tyler Reddick’s sudden downturn in performance during the current NASCAR season. Despite signs of speed, Reddick and his team haven’t matched the results of last year, raising questions among analysts and fans alike.
Tyler Reddick’s Unexpected 2025 Slump
This season, Tyler Reddick has been unable to replicate his strong 2024 campaign, leaving many surprised at his results. While variation in race outcomes is familiar territory among drivers—where luck can swing fortunes dramatically—Reddick’s current slump has stood out for its odd nature. Initially, both Reddick and his teammate Bubba Wallace opened the season by collecting substantial stage points. Over time, that pace faded for Reddick. Meanwhile, Wallace managed to break through by winning the Brickyard 400, cementing his place at the front, while Reddick struggled to regain footing.
If it were not for a streak of seven DNFs recorded by Wallace’s No. 23 car throughout the season, it’s likely Wallace would be close to Reddick in the point standings. These statistics highlight the unpredictability in team fortunes and hint at deeper issues beyond simple bad luck. Performance variations between teammates often signal structural or strategic challenges within the organization.
Kevin Harvick’s Take on Reddick’s Performance
On his Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick gave his perspective on Tyler Reddick’s underlying problems. While the No. 45 car has flashed impressive speed throughout 2025, these quick laps have rarely translated to the kind of results the team would expect. Reddick currently holds the fifth-best average speed over the season’s first 26 weeks. Despite that, his on-track execution and race finishes have yet to reflect this raw pace, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads. Recent races, marred by incidents and accidents, have only deepened the puzzle surrounding Reddick’s form.
Sharing his candid assessment, Harvick singled out the sharp contrast between the No. 23 and No. 45 teams, referencing Wallace’s resurgence as a counterpoint to Reddick’s downward trend:
“I really thought they would progress into, especially the way that the 23 car has run. You know, the 23 of Bubba went through a lull there of time, but they got it back and got themselves to Victory Lane, started the year off like gangbusters. It’s not, it’s not been that type of year like we saw last year out of Tyler Reddick. So, not hard to do. You don’t have to miss by much to not be in that category anymore. But they just, to me, don’t feel like contenders at this point.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Driver and Commentator
Expansion’s Ripple Effect at 23XI Racing
Harvick attributed part of Reddick’s difficulties to 23XI Racing’s decision to expand. He emphasized that their current slump likely stems from the strain placed on resources by adding a third car to their roster. According to Harvick, off-track developments, such as expansion, can disrupt a team’s internal flow and complicate the process of fine-tuning performances across all vehicles.
He explained that the added logistical and organizational load often makes it harder for teams to consistently operate at the level required to win in a competitive environment like NASCAR:
“I think when you look at 23XI, obviously, they have a lot going on off the racetrack, but on the racetrack, they added another car, and any time you expand it’s going to take some time to spread those resources out to be able to understand the flow of your compnay and know where the holes are of where to get those details,”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Driver and Commentator
“So, I always look at expansion as somewhat of a disruption to a team. To be able to maintain at a high level of winning is tough. Because of the things that change. So, if I were going to point my finger at one thing, I would point towards expanding to three teams. That would be my guess.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former NASCAR Driver and Commentator
What Lies Ahead for Reddick and 23XI Racing
As the NASCAR season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Tyler Reddick and his team can adapt to the new challenges brought on by the organization’s expansion. With competition intensifying and teammate Bubba Wallace showing what’s possible under the 23XI Racing banner, the pressure is mounting for Reddick to overcome setbacks and deliver results that match the expectations of his speed charts. The coming weeks will reveal whether the team’s structural changes are temporary growing pains or a sign of deeper turbulence on the path to victory lane.
