(Photo Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
By Adam Carabine & Logan Morris
This year, in preparation for the 2024 NASCAR season, we present our Team Previews Series. Each day until the end of January, a new Team Preview will be live on our website. Check back every day to see what we have to say about your favourite team!
Adam Carabine: Hey Logan, we’re back at it to look at 23XI Racing in our Team Previews Series. They’re still a growing team, and they’ve got a brand new shop, what are expectations like for Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick this year?
Logan Morris: If there’s any team that is on the cusp of becoming elite it’s 23XI. We saw Bubba Wallace have a career year. Tyler Reddick was consistent as always. This could be the year they become true championship contenders in my view.
AC: I’m with you on Tyler Reddick, for sure. He’s blossomed into a legit threat at any road course, he is able to ride the wall just about as well as Kyle Larson does, and he’s shown that he has the mental fortitude to make a deep run into the playoffs. I like Bubba Wallace, but to me, it’s too early to call him a championship contender just yet. They definitely both need to make the playoffs this year, though, no?
LM: Absolutely. With all the sponsorship they have rolling in, and the fact that with each year they become more comfortable with this new car. It’s playoffs or bust for both of them. Anything less is a failure.
AC: Do you think that Bubba Wallace has another breakout season? Is there any chance he passes Reddick in the final standings?
LM: Loganity take, I think so. Wallace has found something with this car. They have their mojo working so to speak. He could win the first two races of the season. Bubba will win 2-3 races this season at least.
AC: I do hope you’re right. I think for Bubba the biggest factor is whether he can drown out the noise that seems to constantly follow him. There’s a lot of pressure to perform at the Cup Series level, and when you have a barrage of haters who consistently make your life a little more difficult, it can be mentally taxing, for sure. I hope he’s mentally well, and I hope he rips it up this season.
Have we heard anything about any extra 23XI cars coming in this year? I know last year we had Travis Pastrana run a few races, etc.
LM: None as of right now. But, I expect to see the 67 on track a few times this season.
AC: I wouldn’t be surprised either. It would be strange to have that be a one-off from last season.
Stay tuned to our Team Previews Series, as tomorrow we visit Stewart-Haas Racing!
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