Michael Jordan’s 23XI vs NASCAR: The Complete Timeline
What’s Happening? The 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit will continue for some time. However, many developments will occur along…
Sunday 23XI officially confirmed that Truck Series standout Corey Heim is the team’s first developmental prospect. However, one major question remains: When Heim is ready for the Cup Series, who will he replace?
Corey Heim is the next piece of an ever-growing puzzle at 23XI Racing. The team, which began as a single-car outfit in 2021, also added a third full-time car ahead of this season.
However, Heim’s problem, and the reason why one driver must go for him to get called up, is that thanks to the new NASCAR Charter Agreement, 23XI Racing cannot expand to four Chartered entries. While they can still enter four cars, it is extremely unlikely for them to take on the financial burden of an unchartered full-time team.
Furthermore, 23XI Racing is currently involved in a lawsuit with NASCAR, in which if the team loses, it will lose all three of its Charters. If the team loses the lawsuit and their charters, it is unknown what its future will look like. A decision in this lawsuit, from Dec. 18, revealed that Heim was under some form of contract at 23XI, something now acknowledged by this announcement.
So, if the team can only have three Charters when Heim’s ready for the top level, who is the odd man out?
What’s Happening? The 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit will continue for some time. However, many developments will occur along…
This is a complex issue, but there is one driver who is likely not going anywhere. When 23XI Racing signed Tyler Reddick away from Richard Childress Racing prior to 2023, it was an aggressive move for a driver still finding his footing in the Cup Series.
Since then, Reddick has exploded into a legitimate championship contender for 23XI. With five wins in the No. 45 and a championship run last season, Reddick is clearly the lead driver at 23XI Racing. While it is unlikely that Reddick would leave, nothing is for certain in NASCAR. Though 23XI is a top-tier team, they are by no means in the upper echelon of the Cup Series.
Reddick’s contract length is unknown, however, it’s likely a driver as crucial to their program as he is, he will be with the team for years to come.
What’s Happening? Today, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports had their Preliminary Injunction hearing against NASCAR. If granted, this injunction will…
Around this time last season, many fans suspected that Bubba Wallace was on a contract year at 23XI. This would prove to be true late in the 2024 season. However, 23XI signed Wallace to a Multi-Year Renewal prior to the end of the 2023 season.
Prior to this extension, fans already speculated that Heim, who made a one-off Cup Series start for 23XI last season, could replace Wallace as soon as this season. This speculation was not just due to his contract status but his on-track performance compared to Reddick.
However, Wallace has a few factors working in his favor. First, he is well sponsored with support from brands like McDonald’s and Columbia; second, Wallace improves statistically every season. Despite a long losing streak, his average finish has increased year to year. As the cornerstone of 23XI Racing, he has wiggle room in his performance.
Once again, no driver is locked into their seat in NASCAR; however, unless Heim takes his time getting to the Cup Series, expect Wallace and the No. 23 to be together for years to come.
What’s Happening After months of speculation, Bubba Wallace and 23XI have announced an extension for the team’s longtime driver. Notably, the…
Riley Herbst is the most interesting piece of this puzzle. The former Stewart-Haas Racing prospect, who is well-sponsored, is in his Rookie Campaign at 23XI. However, his contractual status is unknown, making him a potential option to move on from.
Following months of back and forth between the two, a District Court ruled that NASCAR must approve the transfer of a new Charter to 23XI Racing. Regardless of this ruling, 23XI had already announced that Herbst was going to run the car in 2025, with or without a Charter.
It took Herbst five seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series to make it to the Cup Series, and while it is extremely unlikely he would be out of the ride after one season, it wouldn’t be the first time that happened to a driver.
However, if Heim and Herbst outperform all expectations this year, 23XI could find themselves at a very difficult crossroads by year’s end. This brings us back to the problem at hand one of these three drivers will have to leave 23XI, the problem is, there is no clear front runner as to who that could be.
What’s Happening? Top prospect Corey Heim will stay with Toyota, at least in the short term. However, it doesn’t look like…
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