Tyler Reddick to 23XI Racing in 2024

Denny Hamlin (L) and Tyler Reddick (R) will join forces in 2023 (Forbes.com)

After what has been a somewhat tame "Silly Season", 23XI Racing and Tyler Reddick set the NASCAR garage on it's ear by announcing that the two-time Xfinity Series champion would leave Richard Childress Racing to join the team owned by 48-time Cup Series winner Denny Hamlin and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan for the 2024 season.

The announcement was made during a Toyota Racing video conference. As Hamlin was giving an update on his 2022 season, Reddick entered the call on a separate screen, then walked into the room and sat next to Hamlin.

Describing Reddick as a "franchise driver," Hamlin said very little is certain about Reddick's deal with his team right now, but that the biggest piece of that puzzle is now in place.

"Honestly, there are no hidden secrets here. We do not know who the sponsor will be. We do not know what car it is," said Hamlin. "All we know is we wanted him and we made sure we planted our feet deep in the ground to make sure Tyler had an opportunity with this race team, and we made it happen."

Hamlin has often spoken about 23XI's five-year plan to become a championship contending organization. In a call-in appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio following his team's bombshell announcement, Hamlin called Reddick a "generational talent" and that bringing him on board in their team's fourth season will enable them to take that next step.

"Generational talents don't come around that often. But when they do, you need to put your best foot forward to lock it up," said the three-time Daytona 500 winner.

Reddick has spent his entire, three-year Cup Series career with RCR. After winning two races and his first Xfinity title with JR Motorsports in 2018, Reddick moved to Childress' team the following season for a clearer path to Cup. He would score six more wins and another title in 2019 before being promoted to the sport's top level.

Reddick just scored his first Cup win two weeks ago (Google Images)

This move comes as a major shock because, just ten days ago, RCR announced it had picked up the 2023 option on Reddick's contract. The next day, the Corning, Calif. native grabbed his first career Cup Series win in the Kwik Trip 250 at Road America.

However, Reddick admitted to always wanting to look ahead to what his long-term future could be. This deal had reportedly been in the works for about a year and, based on how both parties navigated his '23 option, this move shouldn't be a "major shock" to RCR.

"It’s always a difficult thing whenever two partners or two pieces or our relationship is going to come to an end," Reddick said during the announcement. "But I feel like it gives everyone time to figure out what lies ahead. What is the next step? Where do we go from here?

"So, for me and in my opinion, I feel like it’s better to do it now than in the playoffs.... There’s no there’s no reason to kick the can down the road. We know what lies ahead, and we now all know what’s in front of us and what we need to do."

Looking forward, Reddick expressed his excitement for what lies ahead of him for the '24 campaign. 

“The team is very young, but it’s been going in a very positive direction from day one. It’s been obvious. I’m just really excited to get it out there and it’s in front of everyone. 23XI can go to work, myself and RCR can go back to work and continue to be as competitive as possible. But also, I know the future is set in stone and what lays ahead.”

While Reddick is making the move that he feels is best for his career, RCR did appear to be a bit taken aback by their driver's announcement. The team posted a response to the 23XI announcement on Twitter which read:

pic.twitter.com/PrNkyHYSH6

— RCR (@RCRracing) July 12, 2022

Clearly, there is a bit of resentment at Childress' Welcome, N.C. facility. Regardless of whether the team was shocked or not, this news will clearly make the next season and a half incredibly interesting, and more than a bit awkward for the team and their soon to be ex-driver. After making the playoffs each of the last two seasons, it will be a challenge for them to overcome the biggest lame duck scenario a team has faced in recent memory.

While rumors will now begin to swirl about how his team will be structured a season from now, Steve Lauletta, president of 23XI Racing, said they still needs to determine what car Reddick will drive in 2024. Hamlin said the team will seek sponsorship for Reddick, and that announcing his addition now will give them a big leg up on those recruiting efforts. He did say that both of the team's current wheelmen, Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace, will remain in their stable for '23.

Chicago Street Course Moves Closer to Reality for 2023

 

Downtown Chicago could play host to NASCAR's first street race (ChooseChicago.com)

The proposed NASCAR street race through downtown Chicago appears to have taken a major step closer to becoming a reality yesterday.

Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic is reporting that the publication has obtained a letter from Erin Harkey, commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, City of Chicago, addressed to Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing development and strategy, endorsing a stock car event to be held in the city for a three-year stretch beginning in 2023.

“Chicago is incredibly enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve as host of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Course events, and we stand ready to welcome NASCAR fans to our world class city,” the letter states. “This would be a historic partnership for NASCAR and the city of Chicago, and our department is committed to collaborating and supporting NASCAR to execute the events in a safe and secure manner.”

While no contract has been signed yet, an official announcement is expected to be made on July 19, sources have confirmed to The Athletic. There is also rampant speculation that this event could come at the expense of the race at Road America in northern Wisconsin, which would be surprising given that track's very successful two year run on the Cup Series schedule.

The Buckingham Fountain in downtown Chicago (Hotels.com)

“As Commissioner of the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), I am thrilled about the potential opportunity to host the NASCAR Street Course events here in Chicago,” Harkey writes. “DCASE is dedicated to enriching Chicago's artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy, and our strong partnership with the Chicago Sports Commission ensures that NASCAR fans would be treated to a diverse and unforgettable experience.”

NASCAR has never run an event on a temporary street course, but such a move would be consistent with the sanctioning body's recent attempts to create unique experiences in larger markets, while also adding diversity to a debatably stale schedule.

Recent changes have included moving the Busch Light Clash across the country from Daytona International Speedway to the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, adding more road course events at tracks like Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas and Road America, and covering Bristol Motor Speedway in a layer of clay for a night race on dirt.

Another piece of this puzzle is NASCAR wanting to generate the same can't-miss party vibe that Formula 1 has made popular in the U.S., especially following this year's Miami Grand Prix. So, there is a real hope that this type of event would help NASCAR continue to ride the wave of success it has enjoyed during what has been a year of resurgence for a sport that has been somewhat stagnant for the last decade or so.

Larson's Championship Rebound is One for the Ages

Kyle Larson (L) and Cliff Daniels (R) pose with the Bill France Cup (Google Images)

Kyle Larson had killed the golden goose.

The night of April 12, 2020 was the night his career as a NASCAR Cup Series driver should have, for all intents and purposes, ended. After believing he had lost communication during an iRacing event that was streaming online, he asked if any of his fellow racers could hear him, then uttered a racial slur. A competitor radioed Larson to let him know that, in fact, they could hear him - and that those watching the event could as well.

The next day, he lost his ride, was suspended by NASCAR and the World of Outlaws, and was dropped by nearly every major sponsor on his Cup Series and dirt cars.

Once one of the most promising young stars in our sport, Larson had been "cancelled." To those watching the saga unfold on social media, it didn't seem like there was any chance of resurrecting his career. Fans everywhere, myself included, never thought they'd see him climb into a NASCAR stock car again.

That is, until Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon rolled the dice and gave Larson the opportunity of a lifetime - a second chance to not only prove he had learned his lesson and matured as a person, but also a chance to prove his abilities as a racer in of the best cars in the Cup Series garage. Despite a chorus of doubters and naysayers, Hendrick's gamble paid off in the biggest way possible.

Larson and his son Owen celebrate a title together (Google Images)

The Elk Grove, Calif. native scored his tenth points-paying win of the 2021 season in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, which is impressive in and of itself, but this victory also netted Larson and his team the 2021 Cup Series championship. Along with 20 top five finishes, 26 top tens, two poles, and nearly 2,600 laps led, this was an absolutely stellar season for Hendrick's flagship No. 5 team. It was also a level of success many would have considered impossible after the journey Larson had just competed.

The life of a professional athlete appears to be a relatively charmed one. Wealth, success, and admiration from legions of fans. However, living nearly every moment in the limelight means that each move you make and every word you say is scrutinized by the media, your competitors, and countless keyboard quarterbacks and social media trolls on the web.

The comment made by Larson was repugnant, reprehensible, and should not be tolerated in the world today. But, does that also mean he is incapable of changing his ways and atoning for his mistake? Today's hot take, "Cancel Culture" society seems to ensure that, more often than not, once a prominent person does or says something offensive, they're removed from the public eye for good before they can even think about asking forgiveness.

Larson was not going to let public opinion stop him from climbing back to the pinnacle of American motorsports. After a hiatus from social media, he penned an essay apologizing to those he'd offended and thanking those who still supported him.

"After I said the N-word, anger came at me from all angles. Being labeled a racist has hurt the most, but I brought that on myself," Larson wrote. "What I didn't expect, though, were all the people who, despite their disappointment in what I did, made the choice to not give up on me. It motivates me to repay their faith by working harder, not giving up on myself, and making sure something positive comes from the harm I caused."

Larson and his team look to defend their title in 2022  (Google Images)

Words are nice, and it's clear from his essay that the 17-time Cup Series winner wanted to make amends. But, actions always speak louder and Larson was ready to put in the work.

Yes, he completed his NASCAR-mandated sensitivity training, but he also worked very closely with the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia during his time away from the sport. Founded in 1998 by Anthony Martin, the organization exposes inner city youth between the ages of 8-18 to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career opportunities within the motorsports industry. Per their website, the UYRS has impacted the lives of more than 7,500 at-risk youth. Larson had already become involved with the Urban Youth Racing School a few years prior to his suspension, but he clearly saw this as an opportunity to do even more for a cause he feels strongly about. He also attended classes to learn more about the African-American community and visited the city of Minneapolis just days after George Floyd's murder.

Larson went above and beyond, and the NASCAR garage took notice.

Enter Hendrick Motorsports and the resurrected No. 5 team. When rumors began to swirl that Larson would make his way back into NASCAR, many saw Hendrick as a fool for wanting to sign a driver they assumed no sponsor would want to touch. Just 18 months or so later, HendrickCars.com is doing land-office business and HMS partner Valvoline recently renewed their contract with the team through 2027. That deal includes three primary races on Larson's Camaro.

It can be easy to write people off after an egregious error in judgement, especially when that person is a major league athlete. But, Larson's saga illustrates the importance of second chances. He put in the effort, made some personal changes, and was rewarded with the opportunity of a lifetime and the support of some of the most influential people in our sport. He's clearly grown by leaps and bounds and matured into someone fans can be proud to have represent NASCAR as its champion. And with one win, eight top fives, 10 top tens, and two poles in the first 18 races of 2022, he won't be giving up that crown without a fight.