Matt Johnson
Tyler Reddick has been the best driver in NASCAR this season, becoming the first since Dale Earnhardt three decades ago to win five of the first nine races on the schedule. It’s all come at the perfect time since the driver of the No. 45 car is in a contract year.
Appearing on Fox Sports this Sunday, Reddick revealed to the broadcast that he has signed a contract extension to remain with 23XI Racing for the 2027 season.
- Tyler Reddick stats: 5 wins, 6 top-five finishes, 7 top-10 finishes, 6.1 average starting position, 5.0 average finishing position in nine races
It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin said on his podcast in March that an extension with Reddick would be done “soon”. A few weeks alter, reports emerged. That came a month after NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi said that the expectation around the garage was that a deal would be signed during the season.
It’s already been a memorable year for Reddick. Back in February, he became the first driver in 23XI history to win the Daytona 500. He carried that over into a historic start, becoming the first-ever Cup Series driver to win the first three races of the season.
Along the way, Reddick shattered 23XI’s previous single-season record for wins. He’s also an overwhelming favorite to win the regular-season points championship, which would be his second in the last three seasons.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround after a challenging 2025 season. He went winless last year, failing to win a race and getting eliminated in the Round of 12 just a year after reaching the Championship 4. It all came at a time when he and his wife’s newborn was hospitalized with a tumor on his chest that affected his heart. Fast forward to 2026, their son is better and Reddick is now signed to a long-term deal with 23XI.
While terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, reports last week suggested that the new contract will make Reddick one of the highest-paid drivers in NASCAR. The contract extension also seemingly locks in the future of 23XI Racing, with Reddick behind the wheel of the No. 45 car, Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 and top prospect Corey Heim expected to replace Riley Herbst in the No. 35 car next season.
