Earlier this year, 23XI Racing dropped a bombshell that they were recruiting Tyler Reddick for the 2024 Cup season. However, the Richard Childress Racing team revealed that the announcement came as a surprise for them. This pretty much insinuated that the deal was ‘leaked’, and Denny Hamlin did not like the implications.

He revealed in a podcast, “I think he told his team, and then I think it was nine minutes later it had made it to our shop, our wrap guy at our shop that, ‘hey, congrats on getting Reddick.’ So it was just a matter of time”.

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In essence, he believed that the RCR team knew about it first, despite what the team owner said.

Will this affect Tyler Reddick in any way?

This really should not affect the #8 driver in a negative manner. Sure, things might have been a bit awkward for them in the immediate aftermath of the announcement. However, he still has a good year, and a half left with the organization since he is joining 23XI in 2024.

With his recent win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it could be possible that all may be forgiven between the two parties.

After all, there is no better peace offering than a race victory, his second career win. In 23XI Racing’s defense, it wasn’t their fault that they responded first and beat Richard Childress Racing to Reddick’s signature. Following his maiden Cup win at Road America, it was obvious that his stock value would skyrocket. All that 23XI Racing did was strike while the iron was hot and rope him before anyone else.

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For now, Reddick will see out the remainder of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season and try to fight for a maiden title. Then, he has all of 2023 for one last swan song with RCR before he departs for the Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan-owned team.