No. 45 Stays Put: Reddick Signs Long‑Term Extension With 23XI Racing

Talladega Superspeedway has delivered countless dramatic moments, but the biggest headline of the weekend came before the engines even fired. During the FOX pre‑race show, Tyler Reddick confirmed he has signed a multiyear contract extension to remain in the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing.

The 30‑year‑old California native, now in his fourth season with the organization co‑owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, made the announcement with the confidence of a driver in complete command of his career. For 23XI Racing, the deal represents a long‑term investment in the most successful driver the team has ever fielded.

A Historic Start To The 2026 Season

The urgency behind locking down Reddick becomes obvious when you look at the numbers. His 2026 campaign has been nothing short of historic. He opened the season by winning the Daytona 500 for the first time in his career, delivering the organization its first victory in the sport’s biggest race.

He followed that with wins at Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas, becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win the first three races of a seasonOnly three other drivers have ever won five of the first nine races in a year, and the last to do it was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.

Reddick added wins at Darlington and Kansas, giving him five victories in nine races and a firm grip on the points lead. He cleared 2,000 career laps led during his March Darlington win and continues to show speed everywhere: superspeedways, intermediates, road courses, and high‑wear ovals. The result is a lead of more than 100 points, a gap rarely seen this early in a season.

The Road to Becoming 23XI’s Franchise Driver

Reddick’s rise to this moment has been steady and earned. He won back‑to‑back championships in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2018 and 2019, becoming one of the few drivers in the modern era to win consecutive titles with two different organizations. He moved to the Cup Series full‑time in 2020 and earned his first Cup victory in July 2022 at Road America.

Nine days later, 23XI Racing stunned the garage by announcing it had signed him for the future.Originally, Reddick was slated to join the team in 2024, but the timeline accelerated when 23XI negotiated his early release from Richard Childress Racing. He took over the No. 45 car in 2023, replacing Kurt Busch after his concussion‑related retirement.

From that point forward, the pairing clicked. Reddick delivered wins in 2023 and 2024, captured the 2024 Regular Season Championship by a single point over Kyle Larson, and advanced to the Championship 4 for the first time in his career. He finished fourth in the final standings the best result in 23XI Racing history.

Weathering The 2025 Setback

The 2025 season tested the resilience of both Reddick and the team. Despite strong speed, he went winless for the first time since joining 23XI. Instead of fracturing, the group used the disappointment as fuel.

They spent the offseason refining communication, execution, and setups. The result is the historic 2026 run unfolding now a season that has already rewritten the record books and reestablished Reddick as one of the sport’s most complete drivers.

They came into 2026 with something to prove, and the early results show a team that refused to let one down year define them. The No. 45 group looks sharper, calmer, and more connected, and Reddick is driving like someone who knows exactly what he has underneath him every Sunday.

Why The Extension Matters

For 23XI Racing, the extension is more than a contract. It is a statement. The organization has grown rapidly since its debut in 2021, but securing Reddick long‑term signals that the team intends to compete with NASCAR’s established giants for championships, not just wins.

Reddick has already delivered 10 victories, 10 poles, 35 top‑five finishes, and 58 top‑tens for the organization. He is the statistical backbone of the team’s rise and the driver around whom the entire competitive program is built.For Reddick, the extension eliminates the final distraction. He no longer has to answer questions about free agency or long‑term plans.

He can focus entirely on racing, and that stability is a competitive advantage in a sport where momentum and chemistry matter as much as horsepower. With the deal reportedly valued between $8 and $9 million annually, it also reflects his status as one of the premier drivers in the Cup Series.

What’s Next: A Partnership Built For The Future

Reddick’s résumé already includes 13 Cup Series wins, 10 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories, and three Craftsman Truck Series wins. Now, with a multiyear deal in hand and the fastest start of his career underway, he enters the prime of his racing life with stability, confidence, and a team built around his strengths.

As the 2026 season continues, one thing is clear: the rest of the field is officially on notice. The No. 45 Toyota isn’t just fast. It’s anchored by a driver and an organization committed to staying at the front for years to come.

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