The Winners and Losers if Tyler Reddick Returns to 23XI Racing

What’s Happening?

With all signs pointing to Tyler Reddick returning to 23XI Racing, let’s take a look at the current state of NASCAR Silly Season and who might benefit or lose out should Reddick return to his long-time home in 2027.

Earlier this week, 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin made headlines by stating that the short but compelling free agent discussion surrounding points leader Tyler Reddick could be coming to an end soon, something backed up by a recent report from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.

In his time at the team, the California native has shown championship speed, though off-track issues, both involving his team and his family, resulted in a tough 2025 for the No. 45 team.

Very few signs have pointed towards the former NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion leaving the team at the conclusion of this season. Still, Reddick entered his contract season at the Toyota team coming off his first winless season since 2021, and his first since joining 23XI in 2023.

But Reddick is now off to a record-breaking pace, becoming the first driver to win the first three races of the season, a streak that kicked off with the team’s first Daytona 500, and pulling away to a dominant points lead.

Now, with all signs pointing towards Reddick signing a contract extension with 23XI, fans are asking what ripple effects this could have on the greater 2027 Silly Season picture.

Hendrick Motorsports

For many fans of Hendrick Motorsports, Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick’s reported contract season came at the right time, with many immediately suggesting that HMS give the former regular-season champion the keys to the No. 48 for the long-term future.

Though this seemed unlikely at the time, if Reddick returns to 23XI, the move will, nonetheless, slim the field of options for Hendrick. Though they may have missed out on further building up their stacked lineup, that may not be the worst thing for the team, as Bowman has been a solid, consistent option for nearly a decade.

Alex Bowman or Austin Cindric?

Speaking of Alex Bowman, he and other drivers in the top seats on a contract season, like Team Penske’s Austin Cindric, would likely be happy to see a name like Tyler Reddick off the board. While some signs point to them returning, a top name off the board will always strengthen any free agent driver’s case for returning to their teams for 2027.

Of course, that’s not to say that there are other drivers out there that could be suitable candidates for these spots. But when a driver leaves a team like HMS or Penske, there is usually an heir apparent waiting somewhere in the wings, something neither team has a leading prospect for.

Team Penske

Team Penske is one of the few teams in the NASCAR Cup Series that does not have any confirmed developmental drivers, though there were rumors in late 2025 that they were eyeing JR Motorsports’ Carson Kvapil.

With Cindric on a contract year, there’s a lot of chatter among the fanbase that Team Penske should move. Given their lack of developmental talent and the potential for slimming options at the top of the free agent board for 2027, is that really the right move to make?

Riley Herbst

One driver that could have benefited from the chaotic scenario of Reddick leaving 23XI, as unlikely as it seemed, may have been his teammate Riley Herbst. Herbst is in year two of his time at 23XI Racing, and with most signs pointing towards a promotion of prospect Corey Heim in 2027, he seems like the odd man out.

But, one scenario suggested earlier this year by the online NASCAR community was that if Reddick left, 23XI should retain Herbst and promote Heim. Now, with Reddick and 23XI working towards a deal, the Las Vegas native might feel on the outside looking in once again.

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