NASCAR: Richard Childress Racing replacing Tyler Reddick?

Richard Childress Racing could still ultimately decide to run a third car during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, despite parting ways with Tyler Reddick.

When Richard Childress Racing announced that Kyle Busch would be joining the team for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season and replacing Tyler Reddick behind the wheel of the #8 Chevrolet, they stated that Reddick would still be competing for the team in a third car, one for which they claimed to have secured a charter.

The team had previously picked up an option in Reddick’s contract for the 2023 season, and all sides had agreed that he would fulfill the remainder of that contract.

This remained the case even after Reddick announced that he would be signing with 23XI Racing for 2024, despite the not-so-secret displeasure shown by Richard Childress after that situation unfolded.

However, many were left unconvinced that Reddick would truly be back in a third car for the team in 2023, given Childress’s tone when pressed on the matter during the Busch announcement. Many even speculated that they hadn’t really secured a third charter for next year.

It has since been confirmed that Reddick is indeed set to move to 23XI Racing a year early. Kurt Busch recently announced that he will not continue competing full-time in the Cup Series as he continues to recover from a head injury he suffered in a qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway back in July. Reddick is set to drive the #45 Toyota beginning next year.

There was always a chance that Busch wouldn’t be back, but team co-owner Denny Hamlin had stated that 23XI Racing had a contingency plan in place which did not involve Reddick. However, when it came down to it, all parties agreed to allow Reddick out of his contract a year early.

But could Richard Childress Racing still end up running three entries during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season?

Apparently it remains a possibility, according to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass.

So do they really have a third charter after all? If so, from which team did they get it? If not, would they run a third car full-time, or only part-time? We have seen both from non-chartered entries in the past.

Back in August at Michigan International Speedway, they did field a third car, the #33 Chevrolet, for Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill. Could they turn to Hill as a potential third driver for 2023? Could Xfinity Series teammate Sheldon Creed be in contention for a seat?

Of course, Ty Dillon’s name has been brought up as well. Austin Dillon has driven full-time for his grandfather’s team in the Cup Series since 2014, but Ty has not done so. However, he is set to join Spire Motorsports next year after losing his ride with Petty GMS Motorsports, so that possibility won’t come to fruition next year either.

So while Kyle Busch is technically set to replace Tyler Reddick next year, another driver could technically end up being the driver who gets a seat at Richard Childress Racing because of Reddick’s early departure to 23XI Racing.