One of the biggest criticisms of Tyler Reddick after the announcement of his move to leave Richard Childress Racing for a seat at 23XI Racing in 2024 was the timing. The timing of the announcement.

Because one, Reddick had just won a race, his first Cup Series race ever with RCR, and two, he had emphasized the fact that he would continue with his team in 2023.

The timing.

This was something that Reddick himself recently clarified, as to why things happened when they happened.

“We just showed that we can win it as a group, and none of that, for us, internally changes as a group. We know we’re winners, we know we can do that again,” he said. “On the other side of it, I didn’t want it to be a speculation for a long period of time.”

“It certainly is odd, it’s never easy, it’s a little awkward, especially with winning like that. But again, we were able to go out there and do it as a group and there’s no reason I should change now.”

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Tyler Reddick explains what attracted him to 23XI Racing

The Road America winner admitted that “a lot of thought” went into deciding whether to sign the dotted line with the team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.

But before that, he wanted to finish what he started with his current team.

“I was very strong in my belief that I wanted to finish what I agreed to do with RCR, with Richard, with everybody there because I got my first opportunity to run a Cup car, to win the first race, and all these things with them,” Reddick said.

But ultimately, it was the people on the other side of the fence, the project they were leading, that convinced him to take the leap of faith.

“Looking into the future, I felt very strongly about what 23XI has been doing in a short time in the Cup series as a team. The people involved were very exciting, and ultimately I thought, long term, that was the best place for me,” he added.

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