As we go to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first race of the Round of 12, one thing is crystal clear: Joe Gibbs Racing is on a hot streak. Chase Briscoe kicked off the Round of 16 with a clutch win at Darlington, then Denny Hamlin followed it up with a statement victory in Illinois, and Christopher Bell sealed the deal with a commanding run at Gateway. Three races, three JGR wins. Talk about a clean sweep!

But while the JGR camp is busy stacking trophies, its satellite team, 23XI Racing, has been left scratching its head. They’ve been fast, they’ve been close, but they just can’t quite get over that hump. And that’s exactly what Denny Hamlin’s star broke down before the Round of 12 begins.

Tyler Reddick breaks down the missed chances for 23XI

The first round of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs saw Joe Gibbs Racing sweep the field, setting a high bar that 23XI Racing is eager to match. Denny Hamlin‘s star driver, Tyler Reddick, reflected on this pressure, emphasizing, “We had a shot at it at Darlington for sure.” Reddick ran strong, finishing second in both stages and ultimately second in the race, narrowly edged out by Chase Briscoe.

Darlington was a relatively smooth day for the 23XI team. Minimal mistakes, no major penalties, and consistent speed throughout. However, ultra-tight pit cycles and Briscoe’s strategic tire management ultimately tipped the scales. Reddick said it best: “Darlington, obviously, we had a largely clean day.” The lack of errors placed them in contention as Reddick finished second after qualifying fourth, Wallace finished an impressive sixth after qualifying eighth, and Herbst finished 28th after starting 33rd. Yet the difference was mere tenths on the stopwatch and split-second race decisions.

Gateway told a different story. Tyler Reddick noted, “Gateway, we had some issues along the way.” Despite a promising pace, 23XI dealt with pit stop miscommunication, a slow tire change, and a costly radio mix-up that shuffled them back mid-race. These hiccups compounded over the tight Gateway layout, preventing either Reddick, Herbst, or Bubba Wallace from mounting a late-race charge. Wallace eventually finished eighth, whereas Herbst finished 31st. It was yet another lesson in the brutal importance of flawless execution in the Next Gen era.

Bristol continued the theme of potential undone by minor slip-ups. “In Bristol, we did too,” Reddick admitted, referencing tire wear difficulties and a late unscheduled pit stop that plummeted their running order. While Corey Heim’s sixth-place surge for 23XI stole headlines, Reddick, Wallace, and Herbst struggled with tire degradation and traffic, finishing outside the top 10. Wallace eventually finished 34th after a late-race crash. Similarly, Herbst finished 18th. Even a solid car couldn’t overcome the snowball effect of small mistakes and a tricky tire strategy.

Reddick’s summary cuts to the chase. “So the name of the game is to have a clean race, and you’ll find yourself in a spot to win.” For 23XI, competing at JGR’s level requires not just speed, but execution down to the minute detail. The drive to push past the hump (and match JGR’s postseason dominance) rests in cleaner, more precise race management and capitalizing when rivals falter.

23XI Racing qualifies strongly at USA Today 301

Qualifying for the 2025 USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway showcased the competitive edge of 23XI Racing’s playoff effort. Tyler Reddick led the team’s qualifying charge, securing an impressive 4th position on the starting grid with a fast lap of 29.356 seconds. He was only a whisker behind the pole winner, Joey Logano, and Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney.

Bubba Wallace, 23XI’s fellow playoff contender, also registered a decent result. He has lined up 14th with a 29.485-second run, putting both the team’s Toyotas within striking distance of the leaders. Reddick’s qualifying run showcased his growing mastery of the notoriously tricky New Hampshire circuit. The No. 45 team dialed in the right balance early, translating practice pace into qualifying speed.

Reddick’s feedback summed up the approach: “I feel like with this car and with us doing that little experiment we did last year, you know, we can race in just about any condition now.” Heralded for his ability to execute cleanly in high-pressure moments, Reddick’s fourth-place start is a testament to both preparation and his adaptability in changing track conditions.

The team’s solid qualifying, particularly against powerhouse organizations like Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske, signals an ongoing step toward playoff resilience and the raw speed needed for a breakthrough win at NHMS. This positioning sets the stage for an all-out effort as 23XI fights to join the ranks of race winners and keep its playoff hopes alive.