In early October 2025, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick grabbed headlines on and off the track. On race day at Charlotte, Reddick won the pole position for the Roval elimination race, a much-needed boost in the playoffs. But that same week, he revealed a devastating family crisis involving his newborn son, Rookie George Reddick.

Reddicks face newborn’s medical crisis

Tyler and Alexa DeLeon welcomed their baby son, Rookie, in late May. For months, he appeared healthy, but this summer Alexa’s instincts told her something was wrong. After multiple doctor visits with no clear answers, the worried parents took Rookie to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. There, doctors discovered signs of heart failure in the tiny infant.

In her October update, Alexa Reddick explained: “Rookie has a tumor that’s “choking” the renal vein & renal artery. Telling the heart “hey I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder.” Causing the enlarged heart. He will need the entire kidney removed as it is not believed to be functioning any longer.”

In other words, the mass on his right kidney was blocking blood flow. The tumor forced Rookie’s heart to pump much harder to circulate blood, causing the heart to enlarge and strain. “He will undergo open surgery to remove his right kidney. We’re just not sure when. Waiting is ok right now to give his heart a break while he’s on BP medication. They expect his heart to fully recover because it was just an innocent bystander. We have answers but a journey ahead to bring our little Cookie home. We’re happy, we’re talking, blowing bubbles, playing,& interacting with every nurse & doctor that comes in his room. Thank you thank you to everyone who’s reached out. I see your kind words,” she added further.

Tumor threatening Rookie’s growth

By Sunday, the Reddicks had the full diagnosis. An MRI confirmed a sizable tumor on Rookie’s right kidney, compressing both the renal artery and vein. Doctors say the mass has enlarged Rookie’s heart and rendered his kidney nonfunctional. An open surgery to remove the kidney is planned once the baby is stable, with the hope that his heart will fully recover. Medically, this is serious as reduced blood flow from a kidney triggers the body to raise blood pressure, which in turn makes the heart work overtime.

In fact, Alexa noted that Rookie is currently on blood pressure medication to give his heart a “break” while they prepare for surgery. Pediatric specialists explain that kidney tumors in infants, often congenital mesoblastic nephromas or Wilms’ tumor, commonly cause hypertension and related heart strain.

Reddick said in an interview on Saturday, “Healthier is probably not the right word, but I’ve never seen him happier. His color looks good. He’s gained weight. A lot of things are going well. All that being said, some of the the tougher moments are definitely ahead. We’re definitely not in the clear. There are some things we need to get through first.”

Removing Rookie’s right kidney through surgery

With the diagnosis made, the surgeons’ focus turned to treatment. Tyler Reddick has said that the doctors now plan an open nephrectomy (major abdominal surgery) to remove Rookie’s right kidney and tumor. Because his other kidney is healthy, the baby can survive with one renal organ, but operating on a 4-month-old carries extra risks. For now, surgeons will give Rookie’s heart time to heal on medication before going to the operating room.

Through it all, the Reddicks have found small reasons to smile. Tyler reported, “On one hand, I’m really happy and it makes me feel great that he’s doing much better right now, but certainly we have some hurdles we have to get through first before we’re even thinking about leaving the hospital or thinking about what comes next.” Even from a hospital crib, the baby’s resilience is giving the family strength.

Tyler Reddick racing with a heavy heart at Charlotte

On the sporting side, Reddick is to race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend in spite of the family emergency. In fact, he will start from pole position on Sunday. He managed this just hours after hearing the full medical update. Still, he openly admits that his mind is elsewhere.

He stated, “I agree with my wife this is the hardest thing that I’ve had to go through. … Certainly being away (last week) wasn’t ideal. That was a decision me and her came to a conclusion on when I was in Kansas. He was going in the right direction… It was difficult to stay and race on Sunday, but we were on the same page about it. I just wanted to get off that plane so bad on Sunday night and get back to the hospital.”

The timing is wrenching as this Charlotte race is an elimination round, and Reddick sits 29 points below the NASCAR playoff cutline. In other words, only a win will keep his title hopes alive. The competition will be fierce as NASCAR road-course ace Shane van Gisbergen is right behind him in the lineup, and he has won the last four road races.

Yet, Reddick insists he will give the race his all: “For me, this weekend where we’re at in points, it just is what it is. I’m going to go out there and give it my best effort while I’m here certainly. For me, this week, the elimination, everything that is happening in the racing world is taking a back seat as it should.”

At the end of the weekend, win or lose, Tyler and Alexa will be cheering on their boy. For now, all eyes are on Rookie’s health. The Reddicks have said that they expect the journey ahead will be long, but with treatment lined up and the backing of an entire racing community, they are hopeful that their little angel will come home healthy. And everyone in NASCAR is rooting for that day.