In a heartfelt show of camaraderie, Bubba Wallace wasted no time comforting his 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick following a tough finish at the NASCAR Cup Series finale in Phoenix. After an intense season that saw Reddick emerge as a championship contender, his quest for the Bill France Trophy ended with a sixth-place finish—last among the Championship 4. Heartbroken yet resilient, Reddick found some solace in Wallace’s warm embrace and encouraging words.
Wallace, driving the No. 23 Toyota, approached Reddick as he wrapped up post-race media duties, giving him a supportive hug and exchanging words on the challenging race. The gesture lifted Reddick’s spirits in the aftermath of a tough loss, showing the strong bond within the 23XI Racing team.
In his post-race interview, Reddick reflected on the season, expressing pride in what the team achieved and optimism for the future. “It was a good year for us and everyone at 23XI to get to the Championship 4 and have a shot at it,” Reddick said. “But we’ve got to get a little bit better here in Phoenix. Obviously, we’re heavily motivated to do that, knowing the championship is decided here. Good year for us.”
Bubba Wallace came over to congratulate Tyler Reddick on his season and to talk about their late race battle.
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 11, 2024
He had to wait on NBC but Bubba tried his best to boost his teammates spirit. pic.twitter.com/Lh3oyK6ls5
Reddick, who battled hard all day, acknowledged the intense effort his team put into the finale. Despite the challenges, he avoided major mistakes and stayed aggressive. “We fought hard all day. We didn’t make any big mistakes that took us out of it. A lot to be proud of, but obviously, you want to leave here a champion. We’ll work on it and think about what we can do in the off-season to get better here,” he stated.
With an impressive season behind them, the 23XI Racing garage is already looking forward to 2025. The team is energized by their performance and motivated to return stronger, though they face uncertainties due to ongoing charter and lawsuit concerns. Nevertheless, Reddick and Wallace are confident that they have laid a strong foundation and are ready to make an even bigger impact next season.