As the holiday season arrives, 23XI Racing drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace have revealed their essential 23XI Racing Thanksgiving non-negotiables, highlighting how the team balances tradition with personal preference. Both shared details of their holiday rituals just before the team faces a major antitrust trial against NASCAR, adding context to not only their race records but the broader challenges their organization is tackling.
Reddick and Wallace, drivers for the 23XI Racing team, recently reflected on their Thanksgiving plans in a candid video released by the team. Reddick recalled his experience with preparing turkey, highlighting a family divide: his preference for the smoker and his wife Alexa’s commitment to the conventional oven method. Wallace, recognized for breaking a long winless streak with a major victory at Indianapolis and making the playoffs after two years, outlined his own Thanksgiving standards, which focus on dressing over stuffing and waiting until after the holiday to put up Christmas decorations.
This year, Reddick finished ninth in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs but did not secure any victories, marking a contrast to his recent seasons. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace, piloting the No. 23 Toyota, emphasized simplicity in his must-haves, favoring classic Thanksgiving side dishes and festive routines over complicated traditions. The focus on tradition resonates with the drivers’ fans and offers an inside look at how elite athletes approach the holiday amid the pressures of a competitive racing season.
In their video, each athlete identified the cornerstone of their family celebration. For Reddick, the turkey is center stage. As he described:
“We’ll see how it goes this year but I’m really dead set on doing a turkey on the smoker, smashcocked turns out really nice everytime I’ve done it that way. We may end up doing two turkeys even though we only really need one because my wife is also dead set, non negotiable, on doing it the traditional way in the oven,” Tyler Reddick said.
Bubba Wallace offered a straightforward approach:
“Non negotiables are Christmas lights up after Thanksgiving. It is dressing. Dressing is the top-side dish for Thanksgiving. That’s my only two that I have,” Bubba Wallace said.
Their timely reflections come as 23XI Racing is about to enter a significant legal chapter. Following Thanksgiving, the organization co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA icon Michael Jordan will face NASCAR in a federal antitrust trial. The dispute stems from 23XI and Front Row Motorsports refusing to sign NASCAR’s latest charter agreement in 2024, resulting in the loss of their charter status. Despite this setback, the team has managed to continue participating in events as an open entry.
Legal Challenges Ahead for 23XI Racing
Ahead of the upcoming federal trial, 23XI Racing received a boost as a judge dismissed NASCAR’s counterclaim, giving the team minor legal momentum. Both parties have submitted their evidence, and NASCAR has moved to exclude certain 23XI owners from parts of the proceedings. Michael Jordan will represent the team in court, entitled to listen to all witness statements, while legal analysts suggest this initial hearing could stretch the case out for years, especially if appeals arise.
The trial, set to begin on the Monday after Thanksgiving, could influence the entire system governing NASCAR team charters. Observers point to the possibility of a major reshaping of the sport’s organizational rules and a protracted legal contest between some of racing’s most influential team owners and NASCAR leadership.
As the holidays approach, the balance between off-track obligations and on-track efforts is clear for 23XI Racing. The drivers’ Thanksgiving routines reflect stability and tradition, even as the team stands on the threshold of contentious legal proceedings that could reshape the business of NASCAR for years to come. The focus on 23XI Racing Thanksgiving non-negotiables reveals how even in a season of uncertainty, drivers like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace find consistency and family connection amid intense professional demands.
