23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin believes earning two berths in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is a reasonable goal for the team.
What began as a single-car setup in 2021 has gradually matured into a full-fledged operation that boasts two cars, its own pit crew and encouraging team chemistry, leaving Hamlin with high hopes for the upcoming season.
Though 23XI Racing hasn’t exactly been on the fast track to the top, its steady progress has been rewarding. More than that, the Toyota team’s growth has been sustainable.
In its first year, 23XI Racing snagged a win with driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 4, 2021. Notably, it was Wallace’s first Cup Series victory.
The team expanded to two cars the following year, with Wallace and veteran driver Kurt Busch each getting into the win column.
Not to sound cliché, Hamlin says, but he’d like to see 23XI Racing earn at least three victories this year.
“I want to continue to see us move up in the standings and our drivers win more races,” said Hamlin, who continues to drive the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. “As far as expectations, both making the playoffs is a reasonable goal. Bubba [Wallace] will have to take a little bit of a jump to do that, but certainly the performance he had at the end of last year kind of showed what his potential is.”
Overall, Wallace had 11 finishes inside the top 10, with a win and seven top-10 finishes coming in the last half of the season. For the Alabama native, this year will be all about capitalizing on offseason momentum and applying it at the right time.
“We’ve been able to win the last two seasons, but at the wrong time. We didn’t win for the playoffs and getting into the playoffs, which our team is totally capable of doing now,” Wallace said. “I just need to go out and do my job and start this year off right.”
The Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum was shaping up to be a strong showing for Wallace until a late-race battle with Austin Dillon took him out of contention for the win and sent him to the rear of the field. Wallace finished 22nd in the 27-car field.
As for 23XI Racing newbie Tyler Reddick, the 27-year-old was chomping at the bit to be back on the race track. After a major transition from Richard Childress Racing and what felt like a quick offseason, Reddick has been waiting for a chance to wheel the No. 45 Toyota in competition.
He got his wish on Sunday, managing a sixth-place finish in his debut with his new team.
“Really glad the switch happened when it did,” Reddick said. “The vision that the ownership group has, that Denny [Hamlin] has from the driver’s point of view and everyone they have put into place around the team — I’m really excited about what this year is going to mean for me and for Bubba [Wallace].”
Reddick had an impressive run with RCR last season, claiming 17 top-10s and the first three victories of his career, further boosting Hamlin’s optimism for this year.
“If they can make it into the Round of 12 and keep going, then that’s going to be a pretty successful year for us,” Hamlin said. “We won one in year one, two in year two, so we want to keep seeing that growth.”
The team will also field a third car — No. 67 — at the Daytona 500, to be piloted by Travis Pastrana.