The stakes have never been higher for 23XI Racing as they navigate the treacherous waters of the NASCAR playoffs, and the recent Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was nothing short of a sobering wake-up call. Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, the dynamic duo co-owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin, faced a brutal reality check. Reddick’s No. 45 car struggled from the get-go, battling a loose setup that sent him skidding up the track, while persistent brake issues undermined his confidence. Despite his best efforts to claw back stage points, he limped home in a disheartening 21st place.
On the other hand, Wallace showed promise early in the race, but as the track began to rubber in, his car’s balance unraveled, leaving him a lap down and relegated to watching from the sidelines as the leaders fought for supremacy. With both cars finishing well off the pace—Wallace in 26th and Reddick in 21st—the situation raised eyebrows, particularly after Joe Gibbs Racing’s impressive Round of 16 sweep, which only heightened scrutiny on the 23XI team.
NASCAR analyst Steve Letarte did not hold back in his analysis of the situation during a segment of NASCAR Inside the Race, delivering a blunt assessment of 23XI’s performance. “Twelve drivers in the playoffs and one has zero wins, Tyler Reddick. He’s a winning driver on a winning team, but the numbers catch up with you,” he stated, highlighting Reddick’s troubling status as the only winless playoff driver despite boasting ten top-10 finishes this season. While Reddick had previously secured significant victories at COTA and Kansas in 2023, his performance in 2025 has left him vulnerable, now sitting 11th and 23 points below the cutline.
Letarte emphasized the urgency of the situation, declaring, “The 45’s path is simple, go win next week.” He suggested that while the day may have been “okay,” the organization itself was at fault for not giving the drivers competitive equipment. Reddick’s handling issues in Loudon and failure to crack the top ten, despite solid pit stops, illustrate a serious gap in team preparation that has left them trailing behind JGR’s superior pace.
Reflecting on past struggles, Letarte pointed to a similar collapse in 2022 at Darlington when Wallace described his car as “undriveable.” His critique pinpoints a systemic issue within the team, where inadequate preparation has left both Reddick and Wallace outmatched in the high-stakes playoff environment.
With Wallace’s recent performance also under scrutiny, Letarte expressed concern, noting, “Bubba said they’ve lost some magic, but if there’s a track where they can shine, it’s Kansas.” Wallace had displayed heroics in earlier rounds, finishing in the top ten at Darlington and Gateway, but his disappointing finishes at Bristol and Loudon have dropped him to 12th, 27 points below the cutline. The pressure of the playoffs is palpable, and Wallace’s admission of having “lost some magic” after the Loudon race resonates deeply.
Now, Kansas looms large on the horizon—offering a glimmer of hope for both drivers. Wallace and Reddick both previously secured victories there, and Letarte’s insights serve as a rallying cry for the team to rise to the occasion. With the playoffs exposing their vulnerabilities, every moment counts.
Freddie Kraft, Wallace’s spotter, didn’t mince words on Door Bumper Clear, stating, “No, we’ll say, ‘Yeah, we are in must-win.’” The team now faces a daunting task, with no room for error. Their recent performances have left them with a steep uphill climb, and Kraft emphasized the need for top-tier finishes in upcoming races to stay in contention.
As they prepare for Kansas, the pressure is mounting on 23XI Racing. Letarte’s message is clear: the team must deliver winning cars to their drivers, or risk being further exposed in the unforgiving playoff environment. The time has come for 23XI to step up, or watch their playoff hopes slip away.
