Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Tyler Reddick starting in rear of Cup Series race at Michigan after splitter damage in practice

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 4:40 PM ET

A tough start to the day for Tyler Reddick and his No. 45 23XI Racing team. They will start in the rear of today’s race. The NASCAR team had to fix a splitter on the 45 Toyota Camry after sustaining damage in practice on Saturday.

Despite Tyler Reddick making a qualifying lap, the 23XI team decided it was best to go ahead and make the fix. If there is a track on the schedule where a driver can go from the back to the front with relative ease, it has to be big, fast, badass Michigan.

Not an ideal way to start your afternoon at the track. However, Reddick, the defending winner of this race from a year ago, will do his best to get another checkered flag in the Irish Hills.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reports that right now, about an hour before the start, Tyler Reddick is the only driver going to the rear. We could have a surprise or two, but it doesn’t seem likely. Reddick qualified P12 but will drop to the rear to start the race.

Tyler Reddick will drop to the rear today for having to change the splitter extensions after issue in practice yesterday.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 8, 2025

Tyler Reddick has had great speed lately. However, he hasn’t been able to capitalize off of that speed. Mistakes on track and other issues have kept him from doing it.

In the last six races, Reddick has only one top-10. He had to fight for it at Nashville a week ago. There have been a few bright spots this season, but the 45 team has been falling off the pace in regards to the regular season championship race. At 118 points off the leader, a repeat in 2025 is not looking likely.

Good news, the regular season is only the beginning. Once the playoffs begin, Reddick can focus on winning his first Cup Series championship. But if he isn’t able to win races consistently, then his playoffs likely won’t amount to much. Making it back to Phoenix and the Championship 4 takes checkered flags. Reddick is still looking for his first of the season.

Michigan is a great track for this 23XI Racing team. If they have the speed to compete, which they should, then it will be about executing on pit road and not getting into an incident on track. Bubba Wallace, Reddick’s teammate, will start P9 today.

200+ MPH today at Michigan, we are going to see these cars push the limits. Tyler Reddick has a lot of work ahead of him today. I’m not convinced that he can’t run to the front and still win this race.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: