23XI Racing’s hopes for advancement in the NASCAR Playoffs have dimmed after disappointing performances by Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick in the Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire, placing both drivers at the bottom of the playoff standings. With sizeable deficits to the cutline and critical races ahead, the 23XI Racing NASCAR Playoffs Struggle has become a central storyline as the season progresses toward Kansas and the Roval.
Challenging Start to the Round of 12 Leaves 23XI on the Brink
Following the first race of the Round of 12, 23XI Racing finds itself in a precarious position. Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick both experienced lackluster results in New Hampshire, while their playoff competitors gained significant points, widening the gap in the standings. Reddick now sits 23 points below the cutline, with Wallace trailing by 27 points. This dramatic shift in fortune comes after a period of optimism for the team, showing just how quickly the competitive landscape can change in NASCAR’s postseason.
The team’s struggle has been exacerbated by the playoff format, which resets points each round. For drivers who do not accumulate a strong base of playoff points through regular-season success, maintaining consistency becomes especially difficult. This reset has left 23XI drivers fighting from behind at a critical juncture.
Kansas Becomes a Crucial Turning Point for 23XI Racing’s Season
Analysts Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi from The Athletic have underscored the significance of the upcoming race at Kansas for the team’s playoff trajectory. Kansas has historically been a strong venue for 23XI Racing, but recent results suggest the team’s advantage there may be slipping. Gluck remarked,
“You know, Reddick’s 23 down, Bubba Wallace is 27 down. They both, you know, 23XI just totally missed it, I guess,”
— Jeff Gluck, The Athletic. He continued by analyzing the current stakes, stating that next week’s event is shaping up to define the season for the organization.
Bianchi also highlighted the pressure facing the team:
“Because, sure, you can go to the Roval, and Reddick’s been good at road courses, and Bubba’s got a lot better there. But you don’t want to go dramatically below the cutline or even double digits below the cutline, probably. So, I don’t think, unfortunately, I picked both of them to miss this next round, and right now it’s looking that way. Because I just don’t know how they dig themselves out of this if they don’t have a great Kansas race, you know?”
— Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic.
Recent Track Performance Raises Concerns
This season’s difficulties have been a stark contrast from just a year ago. Last season, Tyler Reddick reached the Championship 4, and the organization held the regular-season championship. As of now, the team’s three drivers have mustered only a single win, and both playoff contenders are staring down elimination.
Expectations were high for both Wallace and Reddick. Bianchi noted,
“No, I thought Bubba was well-positioned to make it to the next round and a threat to make it to the Championship 4,”
— Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic. He added,
“I felt optimistic about Reddick, maybe not as high; I did not see this coming,”
— Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic, revealing surprise at how quickly fortunes have changed for 23XI Racing.
The decline has been especially evident at Kansas, a pivotal track in the upcoming schedule. Wallace has not scored stage points at the track since September 2023, finishing 32nd in that outing. His best finish at the venue since May 2023 is 17th, which he has managed to achieve twice in the 2024 season. Reddick, after winning at Kansas in September 2023, has earned stage points in just one stage since and has not finished better than 17th in his last three Kansas appearances.
“You put yourself in a points hole now, where you really need a great day at Kansas, and you may need a lot of things to go right for you at the Roval, and that’s a tough thing to be in. And I am really surprised at where this organization is at right now. It felt like the 23 team was really coming into its own. Reddick started the playoffs well at Darlington, and just hasn’t been good,”
— Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic.
What Lies Ahead for 23XI Racing in the Playoffs?
Despite the current setbacks, the season is not yet lost for 23XI Racing. The team still has two races, at Kansas and the Roval, to close their points deficits and fight for a position in the Round of 8. However, their recent performance trends raise the stakes significantly, and both Wallace and Reddick will need outstanding showings to avoid an early playoff exit.
With intense competition from the playoff field, the coming weeks will determine if 23XI Racing can overcome its tumultuous stretch and reignite its championship ambitions, or if this campaign will end with the promise unfulfilled. The focus is squarely on Kansas, a track that could decide not only the fates of two drivers but the direction of the entire organization as the NASCAR Playoffs continue.
