Well, the secret is out! At 2:20am on 5/25, we welcomed the newest addition to the Reddick family. Everyone meet Rookie George Reddick.
— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) June 1, 2025
The household has now become a family of four, and we are so blessed. pic.twitter.com/RZCILUhmKt
 |
| Big Brother Beau with George |
Today’s ‘EchoPark Texas Grand Prix’ will include a field of thirty-seven (37) Cup cars navigating the 20-turn road course at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
23XI Racing will control the front row, as Tyler Reddick (pole winner) and Bubba Wallace laid down the best qualifying times. It's the team's first front-row sweep.
Your attention, please. @ConnorZilisch's NASCAR Cup Series debut is going to be a sight to see in Austin. pic.twitter.com/6MvXEB9Rls
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 2, 2025
NOTE: Young Gun, Connor Zilisch (18 years young) qualified for his first cup start an impressive fourteenth. He won yesterday’s Xfinity Race. In his first career Xfinity Series start in September 2024, Zilisch won at Watkins Glen International. Wonder if he can do the same with his first Cup start!?!
𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕗𝕦𝕟 𝕕𝕒𝕪 🤠
— NASCAR at COTA (@NASCARatCOTA) March 2, 2025
SCHEDULE 🗓️: https://t.co/yrkoWBs0O3#EchoParkGP | #NASCARatCOTA pic.twitter.com/4nyVPXkQYJ
You can watch today’s racing action at 3:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
In recent years, His Airness has given up the basketball court for the racetrack, where winning a championship is still his top priority. We hit pit lane with His Airness as his 23XI Racing squad competed for a title.
It’s NASCAR’s championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway, and Tyler Reddick is hustling to his Number 45 car to put in his first qualifying lap of the day. As he speedwalks down pit lane, he spots—casually seated on the pit wall—the guy who signs his paychecks: Michael Jordan.
Yes, that Michael Jordan, the basketball GOAT and arguably most famous athlete of all time, who just so happens to be the majority owner of 23XI Racing, Reddick’s team.
“Go make it happen, big dog,” MJ says as he shakes hands with his driver.
Jordan co-founded 23XI with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin four years ago. (Hamlin races in the Number 11 car—hence the team’s name.) Since then, His Airness has been a frequent presence at races. But for those in the know, MJ’s interest in NASCAR was no surprise. Jordan has loved the sport since he was a child growing up in North Carolina, a hotbed for stock-car racing, saying years ago that he “sets his alarm clock on Sundays” for each race.
This year, with his team making a championship charge, MJ has been a mainstay at the track, supporting his team week to week through the ups and downs of NASCAR’s 10-month season. And while he’s been able to provide lots of pep talks and encouragement, he’s found that going for a title as an owner is a lot different from when he was an NBA player.
“It's a very different feeling,” Jordan tells me via email after the race. “It's like how my parents must have felt when they would come to watch me play for the Bulls. I'm nervous, but there's truly nothing I can do. I have no ability to influence the outcome of the race, so I can only support and cheer on our team and drivers."
Of course, MJ being MJ, he’s not totally content to just sit helplessly on the sidelines. Billy Scott, Tyler Reddick’s crew chief, says that Jordan frequently speaks with him about strategy and other technical aspects of the race.
“At first it was kind of surprising how invested, how knowledgeable, and how big a fan he is,” Scott says. “He’ll have questions about tires, fall-off, things like that—stuff most fans are not even aware of.”
After a big strategy call a few weeks back in Charlotte helped Reddick avoid being bounced from the playoffs, Jordan effectively told Scott that he would pass the crew chief the ball with time running out—the ultimate sign that he had earned MJ’s trust.
“It’s just reassuring to have him around,” Scott adds. “You can see his competitive nature in everything he does. He wants to figure out a way to help and be a part of this as much as anybody.”
Jordan looks on as Reddick sets out on his qualifying lap, roaring around the oval in his souped-up Toyota Camry with Monster Energy’s “The Beast” brand emblazoned on the side. He sets the fifth-quickest lap of the session, generating roars from his team back in the pit box, MJ among them.
Later, while decompressing in his hauler (the massive 18-wheelers that serve as each NASCAR team's traveling home base from week to week), Reddick reflects on what a wild season it’s been.
“I’ve literally dreamt of being a NASCAR champion since I was a child,” he says. But winning it with MJ cheering beside him?
“Okay, maybe I didn’t dream that part up as a kid,” he laughs.
In only four years, 23XI has gone from an underdog story to a championship contender, but it’s been disrupting NASCAR since day one. For starters, it’s always been a unique team: Jordan is one of only two Black owners in the sport, and the team employs Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only Black driver. As time rolled on, the team brought on a second car (now fielding, appropriately enough, car numbers 23 and 45), and Nike-owned Jordan Brand came on as a sponsor.
The team’s been disrupting off the track, too. The elephant in the room throughout championship weekend is that Jordan’s team, along with one other, is currently suing NASCAR, calling out the sport’s governing body as “monopolistic bullies.” In fact, just days prior to the championship race, MJ appeared in court for the case’s first preliminary hearing.
“I put all my cards on the table,” he told reporters outside the courthouse, before quickly adding: “I’m looking forward to winning a championship this weekend.”
Back at the racetrack, co-owner Hamlin admits to the media that 23XI may end up not racing at all next season, though most insiders seem convinced that an agreement will be reached. Scott and Reddick, meanwhile, insist the legal dispute is not a distraction.
“They’ve done a good job of letting us handle the competition, so it’s been pretty well separated,” Scott says.
Reddick, looking cool and calm, insists that his attention is squarely aimed at winning the title.
“I’ve seen everyone’s mindset, the attitude of everyone around the shop, the focus,” he says. “Everything has been in a really good place, lasered in on what we need to do.”
On race day, MJ strolls up to the 23XI hauler in a green Jordan-brand shirt and camo pants, his presence drawing more than a few oohs and aahs from VIP guests and fans. He delivers a feisty speech to the team behind closed doors and high fives the pit crew as he exits. At one point, he pretends to put on headphones and says to an engineer, “Keep feeding me that info!"
Roger Penske, one of the biggest names in motorsports and a fellow NASCAR team owner, stops by to shake MJ’s hand and wish him luck. “Good luck to you as well,” Jordan replies cordially.
When the race begins, the two men’s differing ownership styles are on full display. Television coverage shows Penske watching the action stoically from a suite overlooking the track. Jordan, on the other hand, catches the entire race from the pit box, standing just feet away from his crew, practically breathing down their necks during pit stops.
As the race unfolds, Reddick hovers around the top 10 but can’t make much progress. MJ pumps his fist and high-fives Reddick’s dad when the driver makes a daring move to gain ground after a restart, putting him into fifth—and back in contention for the title. But as the laps tick away, Reddick simply can’t gain ground, and Team Penske’s Joey Logano ultimately wins the race, and the championship.
Michael Jordan is at the NASCAR race cheering on his drivers: Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 2, 2024
📺: USA Network pic.twitter.com/caR46M5Zuv
As the drivers exit their cars, MJ is the first one there to console a heartbroken Reddick.
“Enjoy your vacation, then we go right back at it,” MJ says. Reddick nods and replies, “Back to work.”
The team may have lost, but the weekend still feels like a win. In just a few years, 23XI has become a true contender, And it’s been a while since we’ve had the chance to see MJ back in contention for a title, even if it’s on a racetrack and not the hardwood.
“I don’t know when he’s last had that type of success in the sports arena,” Scott says, “but hopefully we’ve been able to give him just a small percentage of what he’s been looking for since he stopped playing.”
For his part, MJ seems content, even though he’s not exactly accustomed to losing championships.
"I'm so proud that in four years we've gotten to the point of competing for a championship,” Jordan tells me. “But I want us to keep improving. I have aspirations to win a championship and that's what we're constantly working toward."
A clutch last-lap pass following a late-race restart saw Tyler Reddick clinch a Championship 4 berth with his NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday evening.
Ryan Blaney finished runner-up, while Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott completed the top five.
“I don’t know, we were backed in a corner and had no other choice. I knew we were on a tire deficit, and here at Homestead, that’s a death sentence, but I didn’t care,” Reddick said of moving back into the lead after being passed in a four-wide move on the restart only to work his way back to the point in the final six laps.
INSANITY!! 😱😱😱
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 27, 2024
TYLER REDDICK WINS AT HOMESTEAD! #NASCARPLAYOFFS pic.twitter.com/YX631hRiS8
An emotional Austin Hill climbed out of his No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet on the Homestead-Miami Speedway frontstretch to celebrate one of the most significant race wins of his burgeoning career — claiming the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 trophy Saturday and securing one of four positions to race for a trophy in the Nov. 9 Xfinity Series championship finale.
Hill — who also swept both of the race’s stage wins — took the lead from Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer with 12 laps remaining Saturday evening at the 1.5-mile South Florida track and raced off to a healthy 3.045-second win over the fellow playoff driver and reigning series champion Custer.
“I worked so hard for this, a lot of people doubt me but I wake up every day to prove them wrong,” Hill said. “I deserve to be here and I deserve to race for a championship. This 21 team deserves it just as much as I do. They work their [butts] off each and every day just like I do. I’ve got to give it up to those guys. They gave me a hell of a car.
“I can honestly say I’ve never cried coming to the start-finish line, but I had to get my emotions together going into Turn 1 after the checkered, all the hard work and dedication that goes into this. I don’t think everyone’s going to understand what this means for me, for my family and for [sponsor] Bennett. … I had to be on it today.
”Pausing to take it in, he added, “This is amazing. To be able to go the Final Four. I’ve worked so hard at this and my dreams came true.”
He might still be doing a burnout when the green drops at @MartinsvilleSwy. @_AustinHill | @RCRracing pic.twitter.com/ECDpv6EvRo
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 26, 2024
A strategy call from the pit box coupled with a patient move forward landed veteran Grant Enfinger his second consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff race win in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway while his closest competitors ran out of fuel behind him in the closing laps.
Enfinger, who also won the opening race in this playoff round at Talladega Superspeedway three weeks ago, denied the other seven playoff racers a chance at an automatic bid into the championship race at Phoenix. So now at least two drivers will advance based on points earned with only next Saturday’s race at Martinsville to settle which other three drivers move onward into the title fight.
“At the end of the day, [crew chief] Jeff [Stankiewicz] just had the best truck out here,” said Enfinger, who actually made up a lap on track after contact on a race restart cut his tire earlier in the day.
“Our car was really fast after about five laps yesterday [in practice] and was the same way today. Jeff did a good job managing me with the tires and then managing me with the fuel. I feel like I saved at least 20 percent more than I did in the first run. Jeff was on me pretty hard obviously and the 38 [Layne Riggs] ran out and the 2 [Nick Sanchez] did too.
“Hard to beat these two weeks,” he added with a grin.
This team keeps getting better and better! #NASCARPlayoffs | #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/myvc8EYbqb
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 26, 2024
With just one race remaining, Sean Hingorani left nothing to chance. The eighteen-year-old defending ARCA West champion dominated the NAPA Auto Care 150 at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. Hingorani, starting from pole position, lead all 150 laps. He finished 0.302 seconds ahead of his hard-charging teammate Brett Crews.
“Venturini Motorsports brought me such a great race car today and I can’t thank them enough for that. Had to hold off there at the end, but we were able to lead wire to wire and dominate here today,” Sean related post-race.
Sean leads the series championship points standing by fourteen over Tyler Reif.
With his @VenturiniMotor teammate charging behind him, @seanhingorani ran three perfect laps to win at @KernRaceway!
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) October 28, 2024
The clutch finish earned Hingorani the @reeses Sweet Move of the Race. pic.twitter.com/yBNJg6uCde
Two NASCAR Cup Series teams failed twice in Daytona 500 pre-qualifying inspection Wednesday, resulting in crew member ejections and the loss of pit-stall selection for today’s 150-mile qualifying races.
The No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Alex Bowman and 23XI Racing’s No. 45 Toyota for Tyler Reddick both passed inspection, but on their third attempt through inspection.
Bowman wound up 17th in Wednesday evening’s qualifying session, and Reddick was 36th on the speed chart in the first on-track action ahead of Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM).
Each team’s car chief was ejected for Thursday’s qualifying races:
Both teams will also select pit stalls last for Thursday’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races (7 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM), which will help determine the 40-car starting lineup for Sunday’s 500-mile classic.
Bowman’s qualifying effort snapped his streak of Daytona 500 front-row starts, which ended at a record six in a row.
Two races are always better than one. 😉@DAYTONA | @bluegreentweets pic.twitter.com/1rqVOVaVFk
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 15, 2024
As 23XI Racing looks towards a successful future, they’re making a slight tweak to their aesthetic.
After sending Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in 2023, the racing team has updated their logo for 2024. Evidently, it’s a more “sleek, aerodynamic” design, according to the team.
Check it out below, and form your own opinions on how 23XI Racing did with their new logo choice.
Speed in motion.
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) November 29, 2023
Our newly designed sleek, aerodynamic logo pays homage to our heritage and looks to the future as we continue to grow and evolve. Here’s to year 4️⃣ and beyond🏎️🏁 #ForwardTogether pic.twitter.com/jvcQO42ywD
With a bold move to the front of the field in overtime, Tyler Reddick won Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 and left his car owner frustrated at the end of the second NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway.
Reddick beat Joe Gibbs Racing driver and 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin to the finish line by 0.327 seconds. Hamlin led 63 laps and was more than two seconds ahead of Reddick when playoff driver Chris Buescher blew a right-rear tire on Lap 261 of a scheduled 267 to cause the ninth and final caution.
“Just an outstanding job by this whole 23XI team,” Reddick said after climbing out of the window of his No. 45 Toyota during his celebratory burnout.
“We had really good pace, but just couldn’t get ahead of Denny there, but chaos ensued, people stayed out, some took two tires, and the bottom lane opened up. Pretty crazy.”
P2 as driver. P1 as owner. Congrats @TylerReddick and @23XIRacing. @ToyotaRacing does it again at Kansas. pic.twitter.com/oyVNaGywwB
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) September 10, 2023
Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Saturday, Sept. 16, 7:30 PM ET for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
There were no mixed feelings on Parker Kligerman‘s part — he was ecstatic that John Hunter Nemechek asserted absolute domination over the rest of the field in Saturday‘s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.
Nemechek‘s sixth victory of the season assured Kligerman, who finished a strong fourth, of a berth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, which open next Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“(Crew chief) Ben (Beshore) and all the guys made the right adjustments all day,” said Nemechek, who won for the second time at Kansas and the eighth time in his career. “They brought a really fast hot rod. … Overall, just super pumped, super ecstatic.
“I‘m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started next week at Bristol. We came in here trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that‘s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could.
“So, let‘s go to the playoffs — I‘m ready.”
Win #6 for the No. 20 crew!🏁#teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/AiKcriN8Pf
— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) September 10, 2023
Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Friday, Sept. 15, 7:30 PM ET for the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Christian Eckes grabbed the lead on the final restart and stole a victory in Friday night‘s Kansas Lottery 200, the Round of 10 elimination race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
In a three-wide battle for the lead against Corey Heim and Zane Smith, Eckes led only the final two laps to secure his third victory of the season, his first at Kansas Speedway and the fourth of his career.
“That was wild,” Eckes said after climbing from his truck. “I didn‘t know if I was going to win it or not. We had, like, a sixth-place truck all day, but when that caution came out, I knew we had a shot at it, and here we are.
“We haven‘t won in a real long time — so I wanted to set a tone. Went all the way to the Round of 10 — second, third, first (in the first three playoff races). So can‘t beat that. Proud of all these guys.”
And with that, @christianeckes is off to the Round of 8!#KansasLottery200 pic.twitter.com/Od1CfNbuL6
— Kansas Speedway (@kansasspeedway) September 9, 2023
Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Thursday, Sept. 14, 9:00 PM ET for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Many notable names have taken home an ARCA Menards Series checkered flag in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota.
Connor Mosack added his name to that list during Friday’s Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 at Kansas Speedway. He pulled away from the field following some early attrition to earn his maiden ARCA Menards Series victory, becoming the seventh first-time winner in 2023
With Jesse Love and Dean Thompson both eliminated from contention earlier in the evening due to separate issues, Mosack cruised to the finish for a milestone victory he believed was overdue for himself and Joe Gibbs Racing.
“We’ve worked hard all year,” Mosack said. “There’s been some bad luck and I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but this one came together for us. I wish we could have had [Love and Thompson] to race there and I felt like we were a little bit better [than them].
“We earned that one, but we earned a few earlier this year and gave them away.”
Connor crushes Kansas.#XfinitySeries driver @connormosack picks up his first career @ARCA_Racing 🏁 at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/kAAtfNaoq2
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) September 9, 2023
Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Thursday, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. ET for the Bristol 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Tyler Reddick prevailed in three NASCAR Overtime restarts to claim his first trophy of the year – and first with his new team, 23XI Racing, with a 1.411-second victory over two-time series champion Kyle Busch in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix – the NASCAR Cup Series’ first road course race of the season.
It was a field of international champions and NASCAR’s very best at the famed Circuit of The Americas course, but for most of the race, the outcome looked to be decided in a good ol’ Texas duel between the two fastest cars all weekend driven by Reddick and Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron. The pair exchanged the lead, lap after exciting lap for most of the afternoon.
And on the final two-lap restart, Reddick was able to put his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota out front exiting Turn 1 – a tight left-hander – and power forward to the lead, while Busch and third-place finisher Alex Bowman, fourth-place finisher – and defending race winner – Ross Chastain and fifth-place Byron fought door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper as they chased after him.
“I’ve been wanting to win here in a Cup car for a long time,” Reddick, the 27-year-old Californian, said who now has four NASCAR Cup Series wins, but noted this was his first as a Toyota driver and with his 23XI Racing Team – co-owned by fellow competitor Denny Hamlin and NBA superstar Michael Jordan.
“It means the world,” said Reddick, who sat down on the track and leaned against his car with a bag of ice after winning to cool down on the typically Texas-hot afternoon. “This whole 23XI team has been working hard all winter long to make the road course program better and was extremely motivated to come in here and improve performance. Just so proud of this Monster Energy team and TRD (Toyota Racing Development). All the resources they’ve put in to turn around the road course program means a lot.”
RACE WINNER @COTA 🎉@TylerReddick and the No. 45 @MonsterEnergy team! pic.twitter.com/fm3MRnHs5A
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) March 26, 2023
Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, Apr. 2 3:30 PM ET for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.
AJ Allmendinger started on the pole position and won the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 presented by USA Today on Saturday at the world-renowned Circuit of The Americas road course.
The 46 laps between the green and checkered flags, however, were dramatic and full of emotional highs and lows for the veteran Allmendinger, who led 14 laps to start the race and the final 14 laps to close it out. The series’ all-time road course winner earned his 11th road course trophy (and 16th career Xfinity Series victory) despite having to navigate through the field after falling back to 25th place during mid-race green flag pit stops.
It was a major league road course lesson for the rest of the field as the 41-year-old Californian diced and sliced his way forward in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet to win this race for the second consecutive year. He ultimately took a 0.853-second victory over relentless Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron in the No. 17 Chevrolet.
“William Byron put his best foot forward, you’ve seen all the Cup races he’s winning,” Allmendinger said of the season’s two-race winner Byron. “I knew it was going to be tough just trying to fight to get back up to the front there. Hate that I had contact with Sheldon [Creed], he got under me, I was trying to stay off him, so I hate that happened but so proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing. The Celsius Chevy was really hooked up, and with all the damage we had, it didn’t hurt the car.”
“I spent a lot of years not winning anything, so I’m going to celebrate every one of them like it’s my last one,” Allmendinger added. “You never know. As much pressure as I put on myself, I’m always going to try to live up to it. The pit crew was awesome, and I’m so proud of everyone.”
🏁Ringer, ringer, ringer!@AJDinger goes back-to-back to win the #PitBoss250 at @NASCARatCOTA. pic.twitter.com/Frsk4UNzMa
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 25, 2023
Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, Apr. 1, 1:00 PM ET for the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway.
Zane Smith became the first repeat NASCAR winner at the famed Circuit of The Americas road course, the reigning series champion holding off veteran Kyle Busch to claim his second straight victory in Saturday‘s XPEL 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
The 23-year-old Californian‘s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford led the final 15 laps — a race best 16 of the 42 laps in all — and crossed the finish line 5.451 seconds ahead of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch. The win makes Smith‘s Front Row Motorsports team a perfect 3-for-3 in Craftsman Truck Series races at COTA. Todd Gilliland won the 2021 inaugural event here.
It‘s the second victory of the year for Smith, who won the season-opener at Daytona, too — the same first two victories he earned in his 2022 championship season as well.
“Shout out to Chris Lawson for an amazing strategy,” said Smith, whose Ford F-150 had a small fire under it extinguished after his burnout.
“So cool for [sponsors] Speedco, Peak and all our partners. It was fast when it mattered. I just enjoy coming to all the road courses, especially here. So cool. Just a true testament to this team.”
“Once we got to that eight-to-go point and I was told Kyle [Busch] was in second, my heart rate went up a little bit, just because he‘s so good at managing his stuff when it mattered,” Smith continued. “So, I just tried not to make any mistakes.”
CHECKERED FLAG: @ZaneSmith goes back-to-back at @NASCARatCOTA! pic.twitter.com/WUlLtXEvqy
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) March 25, 2023
Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, Apr. 1, 4:30 PM ET for the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.
William Sawalich arrived at Five Flags Speedway for the Pensacola 200 with redemption on his mind.
A potential victory in his first ARCA Menards Series start on March 10 at Phoenix Raceway evaporated in the closing laps when Sawalich was turned by Bradley Erickson on a restart. The incident forced Sawalich to limp his battered No. 18 Starkey/ Sound Gear Toyota home with a disappointing 13th place run.
No such obstacle plagued Sawalich in his inaugural ARCA Menards Series East appearance Saturday, as he led every lap from the General Tire Pole to continue a pattern of success that’s followed the No. 18 on the ARCA platform over the past few years.
“I can’t thank this Joe Gibbs Racing team enough,” Sawalich said. “We had a really fast Toyota Camry here, and the team worked hard to make this car as good as it [was].”
The first of 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 for @WilliamSawalich!!🏆@starkeyhearing | @SoundGearHear | @ARCA_Racing pic.twitter.com/MPeZYuZWTZ
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) March 27, 2023
Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick and Austin Cindric officially got the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) preseason underway Monday with a two-day Goodyear Tire test at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). Reddick and Cindric also got a step on the competition for Texas fashion when they return for the March 26 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
The opening day of the Goodyear Tire test was highlighted by the fresh looks of Busch and Reddick, who open this season with new teams, car numbers and engine manufacturers, as well as Cindric looking to build off last season’s rookie-of-the-year campaign with Team Penske.
Busch was behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) after spending 15 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing driving the No. 18 Toyota. Ironically, it was the No. 8 RCR entry that Reddick departed after three seasons to settle in the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD with 23XI Racing.
Hmm… that looks new 👀 pic.twitter.com/croP44n9zs
— NASCAR at COTA (@NASCARatCOTA) January 16, 2023
Following Monday’s first day of the test, Reddick and Cindric were hosted by NASCAR at COTA Executive Director Bryan Hammond at downtown Austin’s Maufrais specialty shop to select and customize their own cowboy hats. Reddick chose a natural-colored Stetson 20x Beaver fur felt with a classic pinch front and a hair-on-hide band with silver pheasant and partridge feathers. Cindric went with a Dunn-colored Stetson 40x Beaver fur felt hat shaped with a pinched front. He customized it with a Western-style hitched horse band with a Reeves pheasant feather and had it torched to give it a worn-in look. Both also got their initials on the underside of their hats.
The trio returned to the track today to complete the second and final day of the tire test on the 20-turn, 3.41-mile permanent road course.
While Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick is the odds-on favorite to win Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, seven of the top 11 best bets are NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs contenders who will be vying for the title of 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
A victory by any Playoffs driver in the event that is the second race of three in the Round of 8 (2:30 p.m. ET), will automatically put that driver into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway in November.
Welcome to 𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙀 𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙆 🌴🏁 #DixieVodka400 | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/PyLhFYGFKd
— Homestead-Miami Speedway (@HomesteadMiami) October 16, 2022
Leading the way at +700 is Reddick, who will be looking to play the role of spoiler for the eight Playoffs contenders. Reddick, who was eliminated from Playoffs contention after the first round, has two premier series starts at the colorful South Florida venue – a runner-up finish last year and a fourth-place effort in 2020. He also has two victories (2018-19) at the 1.5-mile venue in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Seven of the next 10 drivers are favorites who are chasing the 2022 championship crown, led by three-time Homestead-Miami winner Denny Hamlin at +800. Ryan Blaney, still searching for is initial triumph of ’22, is at +900 while ’18 HMS winner Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Florida’s Ross Chastain are at +1000. William Byron and Christopher Bell are at +1200. Kyle Larson (+1000), Kyle Busch (+1200) and Martin Truex, Jr. (+1200), are in the mix but aren’t in the Playoffs battle. The final Playoffs contender, Chase Briscoe, sits sixth in the Cup Series standings and is at +2500.
A list of the top 20 odds-on-favorites by DraftKings is below. NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs contenders are in bold.
While the Dixie Vodka 400 culminates an incredible race weekend, the action starts on Saturday (Oct. 22) with a Playoffs doubleheader. The Baptist Health Cancer Care 200, the “last chance” race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs’ Round of 8, gets the green flag at 1 p.m. ET while the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Contender Boats 300, the second race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs’ Round of 8, takes the green flag at 4:30 p.m.
Great tickets remain for all three events. For more details on all ticket opportunities, please visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com or call (866) 409-RACE (7223).
Sunday’s pre-race festivities include two incredible artists – “Encanto” voice actress and Afro-Latin singer Adassa, who will perform the National Anthem, while country music star Kip Moore will play the pre-race concert.
Las Vegas native Kurt Busch announced today that he is stepping away from full-time driving in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 during an emotional press conference in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Media Center.
Busch, who continues the recovery process from a concussion he sustained in July in a race at Pocono, told the assembled media members that he will not race the remainder of this season and will step away from full-time racing with 23XII Racing in 2023.
“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,” Busch said. “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.”
From the bottom of my heart… Thank you. pic.twitter.com/SbKt3Dmv3v
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) October 15, 2022
Busch said he is feeling 90-95-percent in daily activities, but has yet to be cleared by his doctors to return to the cockpit.
“With head movements, and torso movements with my heart rate elevated, that’s when things move quick in my peripheral,” Busch explained. “It would be like looking in the mirror, and then back towards the windshield and around at the competitors, checking the dash like just things are moving quick. And things are slowing down. Things are coming back to me. I just know I’m not 100-percent. The vestibular side is really where I’m focused on with my concussion.”
Busch, 44, has earned 34 Cup Series victories in his 22-year career and said he will continue his role serving as a mentor to the young drivers on the 23XI team.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with 23XI and this team of wonderful professionals and appreciate the support they have shown me over the last few months,” Busch said. “I will continue to work with this group with the wisdom and knowledge gained from the unofficial Ph.D. I’ve earned in this garage area. We’re building something special here and I look forward to continuing working with Bubba [Wallace] off the track as well as Tyler Reddick, who will join the team next year to drive the No. 45 Toyota.”
Busch said the timing of today’s announcement allowed him to share the news here at his home track and he said he was appreciative of all the help and support over the years from the LVMS track, starting with president Chris Powell.
“I’m still competitive, passionate, and I want to continue to perform at my core values, and to give back to a community that has been my life since I left Las Vegas to pursue a professional racing career over 22 years ago,” Busch said. “Next year my contributions to racing may look a little different, but I will continue to give my best to this sport. And, if I’m cleared, maybe you’ll see me at select races.”
Our first win with @FordPerformance and our first Daytona 500 win.
Thank you for all the memories, @KurtBusch. pic.twitter.com/RWpoVGuaFk
Thank you, @KurtBusch. pic.twitter.com/UkCTV37aPW
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 15, 2022
Hey @KurtBusch thanks for all you did for our team @CGRTeams over the years together. You'll always be a Champion and a Winner and #ilikewinners. Godspeed in the next step of your career!
— Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip) October 15, 2022
Takeaways:
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 15, 2022
Kurt Busch will focus on getting back to 100 percent in 2023, says he's 90-95. This isn't a retirement and he wants to compete. There are races in and out of NASCAR he wants to race in the future. He wants to do TV work.
Tyler Reddick will drive the 45 next year.
Kurt Busch's announcement marks the end of an era.
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 15, 2022
He's the last full-time @NASCAR Cup Series driver to run a Cup race against Dale Earnhardt. pic.twitter.com/KTdt8F3oPs
Denny Hamlin on Kurt Busch’s decision to not race full time next year and how Busch has handled the last few months trying to recover from a concussion. pic.twitter.com/ykTEQU5lGg
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 15, 2022
Thank you, @KurtBusch. pic.twitter.com/yDKGWzW41H
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) October 15, 2022
I’ve always enjoyed watching @KurtBusch. One of the best race car drivers of my lifetime. I feel very fortunate I’ve gotten to know him and work with him, and I’m excited for that to continue in the future. Congrats on everything you’ve accomplished, Kurt! #TeamToyota https://t.co/bvC6o8183w
— Christopher Bell (@CBellRacing) October 16, 2022
I appreciate how @KurtBusch made every team he went to more productive. Not many drivers could do that. Hell of a talent. Excited to see what he does from here as he steps away from full time driving.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 15, 2022
I don’t think anyone has done more in @NASCAR than @KurtBusch. An experience in this sport he hasn’t been in, doesn’t exist. Survived highs, lows, and everything in between. #Champion https://t.co/pLpJBZKiIA
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) October 15, 2022
.@RFKRacing & @KurtBusch won @roushyates Engines' first @NASCAR Cup Championship in 2004. At @DAYTONA, Kurt won our 5th #DAYTONA500 as an engine builder. Kurt has delivered success for each manufacturer in our sport. Hope to see you on the race track again soon, Kurt! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/DKIeFXahRZ
— Doug Yates (@Yates_Doug) October 15, 2022
We’ve had our ups and downs together.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) October 15, 2022
I’m thankful for the journey and blessing to get to race with Kurt.
Wish you the best in the next chapter of your life @KurtBusch 😊👍🏻 https://t.co/omJGpYsorf
To forge a 20 year career as a top talent, in America's top stock car series, is something reserved not only for the very best, but for the very special.
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) October 15, 2022
Congrats on an amazing run @KurtBusch - thank you for following your dreams to @NASCAR
What a great career you have had my amigo, it has been a pleasure racing against you over the last few years. I wish you best of luck for the future!! @KurtBusch pic.twitter.com/uCw5wSP4nP
— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) October 15, 2022
