When 23XI Racing came to life, its owners were clear on their goals. NBA legend Michael Jordan brought his competitive itch to NASCAR, and Denny Hamlin was all for it. They did not just want any race team: they wanted a winning race team. And over three years, the Cup team has snagged six victories. And one race track dominated in their records.

Of the past four NASCAR Cup races at Kansas Speedway, 23XI Racing has won three. The team’s close-knit work ethic is one reason. Tyler Reddick, the recent Talladega winner and one of the Kansas champs, elaborated on the familial atmosphere in 23XI.

Tyler Reddick attributes winning nature to unity

Back in 2022, former 23XI driver Kurt Busch hauled home the first Kansas win for the team. But after a head injury in Pocono, he could not return for the playoffs. Bubba Wallace covered in his stead and tasted playoff glory for the first time in his six-year Cup career. He won the round of 16 playoff race at Kansas Speedway, making the No. 45 team the first team locked into the round of 12.

Then it was Tyler Reddick’s turn in September last year. He snagged his fifth career win and first in nine Kansas races. Mid-race, Reddick was battling with his 23XI boss, Denny Hamlin. Yet the latter was guiding his team as well, instructing them to stay strong.

Hence the recurrent tradition of teamwork in 23XI Racing has paid off well, granting both Wallace and Reddick some career firsts. Now as the AdventHealth 400 race approaches toward the tri-oval intermediate track, journalist Bob Pockrass asked Tyler Reddick a poignant question. “What makes you guys so good at Kansas?”

Reddick credited the mutually beneficial environment nurtured within 23XI quarters. “I feel like, how we work together really helps us, unloading. Whichever car is in the first group or the second group, it’s like we’re in the same group. We run around each other and learn from each other.”

Tyler Reddick then highlighted the technical prowess of the team as well. “But I would say our team has done a really good job of really hitting the balance of our race cars. Ten more times than not we’ve really done a good job of executing all day, swinging the same thing at Kansas.”

In line with Reddick’s analysis of the unified 23XI team, Denny Hamlin had a similar viewpoint after the former’s Kansas win.

23XI Racing is a unique creation, as its unique work culture propels it forward to high-speed success. Besides being the only NASCAR team dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, its transparency within the team command is also fascinating. Denny Hamlin elaborated on this at Kansas Speedway after Tyler Reddick soared to glory.

He stressed how there is always a backup plan in place since the team members help each other. “It’s good to have multiple bullets in the gun when you’re in a late-race restart situation where you had one car dominating and then next thing you know you’re in fifth and sixth. Myself and that teamwork are really, really close together. Typically when we run well, that team runs well, and we’re learning as much from them as they’re learning from us.”

We expect to see a similar streak of collaborated efforts in 23XI at the upcoming race in Kansas this weekend.