Las Vegas, NV–The excitement of NASCAR filled the air this weekend in Las Vegas with a star-studded line up of top competitors, celebrities, impending changes, historical moments, and unexpected wins.
Motorist News
This weekend was a decent one for Tyler Reddick who will join 23XI Racing in 2023, a year earlier than scheduled. His contract was taken over by Richard Childress Racing after an agreement was made with the two teams. Reddick joined RCR in 2019, claiming his second Xfinity Series championship that year before moving up to the Cup Series the following season. He won his first Xfinity Series title with JR Motorsports in 2018.
The twenty-six year old Cali native will be swapping his custom No. 8 Chevy to take on his new joyride, the No. 45 Toyota hardtop next year. The news came right on queue as he drove his way to pole position at the Speedway. “I’m really excited about next year, but there’s still a number of races left this year that I’m gonna continue to remain focused on and do everything I can for my team to run well and do well,” Reddick said.
Prior to talks of him joining the 23XI brand at the end of his 2024 contract, Co-owner Denny Hamlin intensely studied his newest driver’s skillset, “I watched him race, I raced against him, I wanted him, and I got him”, said the veteran exec not revealing which car Reddick would drive, or whether 23XI would expand to a three-car fleet with Reddick joining Kurt Busch and Bubba Wallace as teammates.
Reddick’s signing news came the same weekend Busch made his release regarding his future in racing, “As I continue to focus on my health and work towards being cleared, I will be stepping away from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2023″, said the multi cup race winner.
He has been out the last twelve cup series competitions after sustaining a concussion at Pocono Raceway July 23rd, having yet to be medically cleared to return to the cockpit though he feels like he is 90-95 percent better in his daily activities.
The thirty-four time cup race champ has enjoyed his career with the 23XI team, appreciating their support since his injury, “my long-term health is priority No. 1, and I don’t feel committing at this point to compete for a championship next year is in my best interest or the best interest of the team”, said the three-time NASCAR top division racer stating he will continue to work with them part time and looks forward to preserving his relationship with Wallace and Reddick off the track.
Although No. 45 has not been driven by Busch, his presence has been seen and felt in racing events from track to track. Bubba Wallace has been Busch’s sub driving No. 45 during playoff races for team points. Ty Gibbs will be filling in for Busch driving car No. 23 displaying his teammate’s name during the ALSCO Uniforms 302 event in Las Vegas.
Gibbs had a great 2021 season and stepped up the ante in the 2022 season for the Xfinity series. It’s just a matter of time before he advances in the Cup Series. He now will become teammates with Hamlin under Gibbs Racing, the family-owned affiliate by his grandfather taking over Kyle Busch’s No. 18 while the two-time Espy Award and seven-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team owner makes his transition to Richard Childress Racing (RCR).
Busch has won two championships during his time with Gibbs Racing. Other drivers who have won driving No. 18-Dale Jarret in the Daytona 500 and Bobby Labonte, the first driver to win a Cup title.
