Ten days ago, Tyler Reddick‘s future in NASCAR was set in stone.
At least in the short term.
Though Richard Childress had hinted at it earlier this year, Reddick confirmed in the Road America garage prior to qualifying Childress had picked up his option for the 2023 NASCAR Cup season.
“Next year’s all taken care of, I’ll be racing with RCR next year,” Reddick said.
Then came the next question, courtesy of Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass.
“Have you started talking to people about 2024?”
The question was barely out of Pockrass’ mouth when Reddick smiled.
Reddick’s said smile when Bob asked him about 2024.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/fFjNtCvupl
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) July 12, 2022
Just over 24 hours later, Reddick clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series win in 92 starts. It was the first win for RCR by a driver not named Austin Dillon since 2017 and it was the most convincing victory for the organization since Kevin Harvick‘s final season with RCR in 2013.
In Victory Lane, as Reddick’s son Beau slept, there were cheers and big smiles.
For the first time in a while, the Cup future seemed bright for RCR.
This was only 9 days ago.#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/srOMNDxUeA
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) July 12, 2022
But the future has a way of flipping its script on short notice.
It all changed nine days later on Tuesday, July 12 around 12:10 p.m. ET.
That’s when a media availability described as being a midseason status update about Toyota and 23XI Racing turned into the biggest bombshell of the NASCAR season.
Reddick unexpectedly popped into the digital press conference. Initially played off as a mistake, within moments Reddick had slid behind a table to sit next to Denny Hamlin.
“Surprise?” Hamlin asked everyone watching.
“Surprise,” Reddick added.
The news: NASCAR’s newest Cup winner, who Hamlin later described as a “generational talent,” would join 23XI Racing in 2024.
Other than that, there were no further announcements on 23XI’s side of things.
Hamlin and team president Steve Lauletta have no idea who will sponsor Reddick in 2024 or even how many cars they will field that season.
Those are among many of the Toyota organization’s “unanswered questions.”
All that’s known is Reddick recently signed a multi-year deal with a team that’s in its second season.
According to Hamlin, conversations about possibly adding the two-time Xfinity Series champion to his stable had been going on for about a…
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