Denny Hamlin admits that Tyler Reddick ‘exposed his lack of skills’ since making 23XI Racing debut

Denny Hamlin claims Tyler Reddick challenges him to be a better driver.

Denny Hamlin admits that Tyler Reddick ‘exposed his lack of skills’ since making 23XI Racing debut

Tyler Reddick & Denny Hamlin (Image via Firstsportz)

Denny Hamlin, regarded as one of the best drivers to have never won the NASCAR Cup Series championship, is hunting for his maiden title. The No.11 Toyota Camry driver for Joe Gibbs Racing clocked the fastest time in qualifying at Sonoma Raceway. Hamlin earned the 38th pole of his career.  The driver who started alongside him was the 23XI Racing star Tyler Reddick.  

Reddick moved from Richard Childress Racing to 23XI Racing during the NASCAR offseason. It is a team co-owned by Hamlin and the Hall of Fame basketball player Micheal Jordan. Denny Hamlin praised Reddick to the press over the Sonoma race weekend. He credited the 27-year-old for challenging him and setting the bar high. 

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Denny Hamlin stated, “He [Reddick] certainly exposed me, and my lack of skills, and [I] knew he would.” The 42-year-old praised the No:45 Toyota Camry driver for his brilliant performance with his new team. It seems that Reddick has impressed his team owners. Hamlin also explained that the 2019 Xfinity Series champion had been a good influence on him. 

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Related: WATCH: “Quit trying to create controversy” – Ryan Blaney slams reporters after the Micheal McDowell incident at Sonoma Raceway 

Denny Hamlin says he knew Tyler Reddick was going to set the bar

Denny Hamlin (Image via Getty Images)
Denny Hamlin (Image via Getty Images)

Hamlin added, “I mean, you always want people that challenge you and challenge you to be better, and I think that when Tyler came over here this year we knew that he was going to be the bar that we had to set ourselves against.” Hamlin also confessed that he is over a second slower than Reddick in the simulator when he goes to COTA. It is safe to say that he is fond of his 23XI driver. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver believes that Reddick helps him evolve as a driver.

Tyler Reddick moved to 23XI Racing quite controversially, as he left RCR before his contract expired. Though he did not have a win in his first two NASCAR Cup Series seasons, Reddick got his first three wins in 2022. Two out of three were at road courses when he was with RCR. 

The 27-year-old started the 2023 season on the back foot due to two DNFs in the first two rounds. However, he turned things around quickly. After the Toyota Save Mart 350, Reddick has six top 5 finishes. He also secured his fourth Cup win at the Circuit of the Americas. 

Denny Hamlin also credited his team and claimed Toyota has evolved over the year. Though he feels Reddick has contributed to the team’s accomplishments, he also believes their cars are better now. Hamlin stressed that the focus of the Toyota Racing Development team is to improve. 

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