Former NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick has revealed how 23XI Racing losing its charter status has impacted its drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, who seem to be experiencing a strong Cup Series season thus far.
The team is engaged in a legal battle with the sport and has lost its charter status. While neither driver has commented on the case recently, Harvick has opened up on how the charter loss could be affecting them. The drivers would just want to focus on racing at this point, which was the sole reason they signed with 23XI in the first place. Speaking on his Happy Hour podcast, he said:
“I think that the two drivers are probably annoyed more than anything, because they just want to race. They signed up to race, they signed up to go out there and do their job and they’re having to answer questions about stuff that they don’t want to answer questions about, So, at this point, it’s annoying, I’m sure, that they have to deal with it.”
Harvick explained that the whole saga was a distraction for Wallace and Reddick, as it puts their future in jeopardy. The same could not be said about 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, who races for Joe Gibbs Racing. Harvick added:
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 U.S. Air Force Toyota, (L) and Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Mobil 1 Toyota, talk on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500…
Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 U.S. Air Force Toyota, (L) and Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Mobil 1 Toyota, talk on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona.
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“It is a distraction. It’s not the same distraction for Denny Hamlin as it is for Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, because they’re not vested in the ownership of the team and restructuring the league.”
Newsweek Sports recently quoted Jordan Bianchi, who explained that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports drivers could lose their seats before the 2026 season amid the ongoing legal battle. He said:
“23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports made clear in their most recent filings what would happen if the teams lose their charters. They said they would be ‘out of business following the 2025 Cup Series season.’
“Among the drivers needing new teams would be Tyler Reddick, a Championship 4 finalist a year ago, Bubba Wallace, who just won the Brickyard 400, Corey Heim, and FRM’s Zane Smith, a young talent viewed as having big upside.
“Predicting where these guys all would land is nearly impossible; there will be teams that don’t currently have openings but will reevaluate their driver lineups if an upgrade is suddenly available.”
Speaking on the topic of who could win the case, he said:
“Each side’s lawyers are the real winners here. Billable hours remain undefeated.”
“Regarding the outcome of the lawsuit, it is impossible to make an accurate prediction. There are too many unknowns.”