On the final lap of the 2025 Daytona 500, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing managed to navigate through the chaos on the 2.5-mile superspeedway to secure a commendable second-place finish. Despite starting the white flag lap in 13th place, Reddick skillfully maneuvered his No. 45 Toyota through the smoke ensuing from a massive collision among the lead cars.
Prior to this, Reddick’s best result at the 500 was a 27th place finish in 2019 and 2021. However, his impressive performance at Daytona this year has bolstered his optimism for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Reflecting on past experiences, Reddick acknowledged how easy it is to begin a season on a bad note, something he has unfortunately experienced. But this year, merely completing Daytona on the lead lap, regardless of his finishing position, was a victory in itself. The fact that he finished second and secured valuable points elevated this triumph.
Reddick and his team were focused on starting this season on a high note, something he hasn’t had the chance to experience in his Cup level career. He expressed his hope to maintain or improve his current fourth position in points after the upcoming races.
In the Daytona 500, Reddick wasn’t a significant player until the third and final stage. He followed his team’s strategy, which aimed at conserving fuel and avoiding unnecessary risks. While their plan got derailed in stage two, they managed to regain control in stage three. Despite losing their hard-earned track position due to cars with poor handling or insufficient fuel, Reddick managed to predict the impending wreck and strategically positioned himself.
The next challenge for Reddick is the Atlanta race on Sunday afternoon. He identifies car handling and control as significant factors for this race. However, unlike Daytona or Talladega, Atlanta tends to have a wider field spread, emphasizing the importance of maintaining track position.
Reddick also pointed out the challenges posed by Xfinity rubber at Atlanta, which often results in a lack of grip at the beginning of the race. He mentioned that the colder temperatures in Atlanta might also influence the race dynamics.
Despite these challenges, Reddick feels positive about the upcoming race in Atlanta, reminiscing about his strong performance in 2023. He confidently asserted that with a good handling car, he and his Toyota Camry SXE have a legitimate shot at victory.
Reddick praised 23XI Racing for their high-level performance last summer when they managed to close a gap of over 100 points down to zero. He believes that if they can maintain that level of consistency, they will be in an excellent position for the season. While admitting that 2024 was a year of ups and downs, he believes that the experiences gained will set them up for a more successful season this year.
With numerous races ahead before the playoffs, Reddick and his team are determined to capitalize on their current form and prevent their competitors from catching up, especially on the tracks where they excel.