NASCAR: Tyler Reddick out at Richard Childress Racing for 2023?

Tyler Reddick’s stint at Richard Childress Racing may be ending at the end of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, one year earlier than expected.

Shortly after it was announced that Richard Childress Racing had picked up an option in Tyler Reddick’s contract to keep him with the team for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Reddick announced that he had signed with 23XI Racing for 2024.

Team owner Richard Childress was not a fan of how that process played out, and that was never much of a secret. But all sides maintained that Reddick would be back with the Chevrolet to fulfill the remainder of his contract in 2023.

But then came the rumor that Kyle Busch was an option for Richard Childress Racing in 2023, with Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing failing to come to an agreement for next year following the departure of longtime primary sponsor M&M’s.

Busch’s move to Richard Childress Racing was reported a few days before it was announced, and literally just before it was formally announced, Childress informed Reddick that he would no longer be behind the wheel of the #8 Chevrolet.

Childress then stated that the team had acquired a third charter to retain Reddick for 2023.

But it was not revealed from where the team secured this alleged third charter, and his tone didn’t sound all that convincing when asked about why he opted for this route instead of simply having Reddick’s contract bought out.

Considering the fact that Richard Childress Racing wouldn’t be retaining Reddick for beyond 2023 anyway, would they really secure an extra charter for just one season, or were they planning on sticking with three cars long-term?

Even with 23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch facing an uncertain future following the qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway which left him with concussion-like symptoms, however, team co-owner Denny Hamlin stated that the team had a contingency plan in place for 2023 that did not include Reddick.

The belief was that John Hunter Nemechek was the subject of that contingency plan, since he was 23XI Racing’s initial emergency driver before Ty Gibbs was called upon to replace Busch following his crash.

But now it appears as though the final four races of the 2022 season will be Reddick’s last four races with Richard Childress Racing, as Lee Spencer has reported that he will be moving to 23XI Racing a year early after having his contract bought out.

Specifics on the move haven’t yet been reported. It is possible that Reddick straight-up replaces Busch behind the wheel of the #45 Toyota, if Busch has made the decision that he will not return for 2023, and it is also possible that Reddick joins the team in a third car.

If the latter scenario is true, it will be interesting to see if 23XI Racing secured a third charter, and if so, from which team. 23XI Racing had been in talks about a potential third charter, but nothing more was ever revealed beyond that.

Busch is currently under contract with the team through 2023, and there is an option for 2024 in his contract. Bubba Wallace recently signed a multi-year extension to remain behind the wheel of the #23 Toyota.

It will also be interesting to see if Richard Childress Racing have indeed stuck with just two charters for 2023. If they weren’t bluffing about securing a third, who will be in the third car?