2022 was a year of both triumph and disappointment for 23XI Racing. On one hand, the team swept the Kansas races. With the spring Kansas win, Kurt Busch would have been playoff eligible. However, the downside was that Bubba Wallace missed the playoffs and Busch had to retire from active competition. Replacing Busch for 2023 would be Tyler Reddick, who initially was announced to be coming to the team in 2024. With the driver change, it was difficult to exactly peg what the expectations were for 23XI Racing. One thing was certain though: both cars needed to be playoff caliber. How does 23XI Racing stack up in this 2023 Season in Review?
Bubba Wallace – #23
2023 Stat Line:Â 36 Starts – 5 Top-5s, 10 Top-10s, 1 Pole, 285 Laps Led, Avg Fin 15.9
Crew Chief: Bootie Barker
Driver Points Ranking: 10;Â Owner Points Ranking: 17
Notable Results: Advanced to the Round of 12; 3 Straight Top-5s (spring Kansas, throwback Darlington, & Coke 600)
Making the playoffs was the goal for Bubba Wallace in 2023. After back to back seasons of winning a race in the playoffs, it was time for Wallace to race for a championship in the final ten races of the season. While Wallace improved upon his 2021 numbers last year, Kurt Busch demonstrated that Wallace could get more out of the equipment. The addition of Tyler Reddick was only going to add further pressure. Reddick was coming off a 3-win season in equipment that was similar to 23XI’s. If Reddick shined while Wallace ran fifteenth, it would only strengthen the narratives against Wallace.
Fortunately for Wallace, his 2023 season was a career year for the driver. Not only did he make the playoffs, he was able to advance through to the Round of 12. Detractors will point out that the injuries to Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman were the reason why Wallace was able to point his way in. While that may be true, Wallace still earned his way in and through the Round of 16. Wallace had significant improvement this season, hitting career bests in laps led, average finish, and lead lap finishes.
2023 Grade: B+
There was significant pressure on Bubba Wallace demonstrate that he has talent worthy of his equipment. Based on his 2023 season, it is difficult to argue that he failed that goal. Although Tyler Reddick had the stronger season, Wallace’s average finish was only .2 spots worse than Reddick’s. Where Wallace (and the 23 team) lacked significantly was contending for wins. You could count on one hand how many races Wallace genuinely contended for the win.
Despite clearly being the number two driver at 23XI Racing, it is still a successful season. Although short, Wallace’s playoff run did flash some impressive performances. His Texas race might be viewed as the one that got away. Wallace nabbed the pole and led a race high 111 laps. However, Wallace backed that impressive run up with a surprisingly poor run at Talladega. After that performance, his hopes of advancing were essentially dashed with the ROVAL next.
2024 Expectations
Win multiple races. The feel good story about Bubba Wallace making and advancing in the playoffs is done and over with. Wallace has the team and equipment capable of winning multiple races. He needs to do it. If not winning multiple races, then double-digit Top-5s. While their average finishes were close, Wallace needs to stop having his teammates outshine him every year. It is a similar to Trackhouse with Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez. While it is difficult to envision Wallace being on the hot seat, winning this upcoming season will be important.
One area that Wallace showed promise was his road racing. While he showed significant improvement at Watkins Glen and the ROVAL, those are the two most NASCAR type road courses on the schedule. At COTA, Indy, and Chicago, Wallace still looked like massive novice. Wallace needs to develop out of his niche tracks and into a more well-rounded driver. Is his improvement on road courses only limited to Watkins Glen and the ROVAL? It will be something to watch in 2024.
Tyler Reddick – #45
2023 Stat Line:Â 36 Starts – 2 Wins, 10 Top-5s, 16 Top-10s, 2 Poles, Avg Fin 15.7
Crew Chief: Billy Scott
Driver Points Ranking: 6;Â Owner Points Ranking: 6
Notable Results: Wins at COTA and playoff Kansas; Advanced to the Round of 8
After a breakout season in 2022 with Richard Childress Racing, the hope was that Tyler Reddick would be able to carry the momentum over to 23XI Racing. While his 2022 was solid, it seemed to be a bit boom or bust. In 2022, Reddick scored 15 Top-10s. Meanwhile, he only had 18 lead lap finishes along with 8 DNFs. If he was not running well, Reddick was finishing multiple laps down.
Back to back DNFs to start the season did little to ease those concerns. However, Reddick put it together to go on a hot streak starting with Phoenix. From Phoenix through Bristol dirt, Reddick would Top-5 in 4 of 5 races. At that point in the season, it looked like Reddick was going to be a championship favorite. However, Reddick’s boom or bust fashion returned during the summer. A five race stretch from Gateway to Atlanta saw Reddick average a 30.6 finish. Bad luck and mistakes seemed to plague Reddick during the season.
With that said, the 45 team was able to put together a strong playoff run. A win at Kansas continued 23XI’s dominance at the track and locked him into the Round of 12. Had it not been for NASCAR’s decision to bring back stage cautions at the ROVAL, Reddick likely would have won that race as well. However, Reddick would bow out of the playoffs after struggling mightily at Martinsville. That, on top of a bad Phoenix race, ended the season on a sour note.
2023 Grade: A-
Tyler Reddick put together a nice season where he showed flashes of being one of the best drivers in the series. His ability on road courses is something to watch, as he might surpass Chase Elliott as the road course ace with the NextGen car. A Round of 8 appearance exceeded the expectations that many had for Reddick. It was a successful season for the entire team.
With that said, there were too many mistakes made by Reddick and the 45 team to fully reward them with an A. Heading into the playoffs, the big question was not whether Reddick had to speed for a deep run. Rather, it was whether the 45 team would shoot themselves in the foot. While they avoided it during their playoff run, the regular season had too many mistakes to give a higher grade than A-.
2024 Expectations
Tyler Reddick feels like he is on the cusped of turning into one of the Cup Series top tiered drivers. The talent is clearly there, but the boom or bust nature of Reddick’s career is a worrisome sign. Though, he did improve in that area this year. With that said, an average finish of 15.7 for a team that had Top-5 speed most weeks is not impressive. If Reddick and his team can clean up their mistakes, then Reddick could be a legitimate championship contender.
Travis Pastrana & Kamui Kobayashi – #67
2023 Stat Line: 2 Starts – 2 Laps Led, Avg Fin 22.0
Crew Chief: Eric Phillips
23XI Racing dipped their toe in minor expansion during the 2023 season. The 67 car was unveiled for Travis Pastrana to attempt the Daytona 500. Pastrana would be making his NASCAR return after his fulltime Xfinity Series season in 2013 and some spot starts in the Truck Series. As an open car, Pastrana would have to qualify his way into the Daytona 500. He did that during Wednesday night qualifying, making his Duel race about practice rather than stressing about position. Pastrana would put together a solid run, finishing a respectable 11th.
The 67 car would not return until the Indy GP with former Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi behind the wheel. Unlike Pastrana, this would be Kobayashi’s first time behind the wheel of a stockcar. Unfortunately for Kobayashi, he struggled mightily during the Indy GP. He did not take to the sport as well as other international drivers did this season. After a rough race, Kobayashi brought the 67 car home in 33rd.
23XI Racing Grade: A
For the level of expectations that 23XI Racing had entering the season, 2023 could not have gone much better. Both drivers finished inside the Top-10 in points. Bubba Wallace had his best season yet (minus a win) while Tyler Reddick justified their bold move to poach him from RCR. In terms of expectations vs results, 23XI Racing arguably was the best Cup team.
As for their future, it is a question how strong the relationship between the team and Toyota is. Clearly, the Denny Hamlin negotiations dragging into the fall had to do with 23XI. With Legacy Motor Club joining TRD, where does that put 23XI Racing? According to reports, Legacy will be Toyota’s project and receive plenty of direct help from the manufacturer. It is doubtful that Toyota will turn their back on a team that performed so well this season. At the same time, the addition of Legacy definitely rocked the boat. While Hamlin signed a multiyear extension, is 23XI Racing’s long term future away from Toyota?
For other 2023 Season in Review articles, click the link(s) below:
Griffin Fuller – Team Penske, Wood Brothers, Stewart-Haas Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing
Robert Cwick – JTG-Daugherty, Live Fast, Front Row (Part 1)Â
Daniel Smith (Statistical Breakdown) – Cup: Team Penske/Wood Brothers, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI & Legacy Motor Club, RFK/Front Row, Trackhouse/RCR, Stewart-Haas Racing, JTG/Rick Ware/Live Fast, Kaulig/Spire, Final Rankings; Xfinity: Stewart-Haas/AM Racing
