Tyler Reddick Secures 23XI Racing’s 1-2 Finish in Darlington Cup Qualifying
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Tyler Reddick earned the pole for Sunday’s 400-mile race at Darlington Raceway. His lap topped the field at 169.152 mph on the 1.366-mile oval.
Reddick drove the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing. He now holds 13 career pole positions and enters the race after winning the season’s first three events.
23XI Racing locks front row
Bubba Wallace qualified second at 168.434 mph in the No. 23 Toyota. The result gave 23XI Racing a front-row sweep, its second such achievement.
Reddick and Wallace sit 1-2 in the Cup Series standings through five races. The team’s strong start continued despite adjustments to engine output and reduced downforce.
Qualifying drama and car issues
Reddick brushed the wall while pushing for his lap time. He admitted losing throttle control and nearly wrecking during the run.
Chase Elliott posted the third-fastest time after his No. 9 Chevrolet failed inspection twice before qualifying. That led to a lost pit selection and the removal of car chief Matt Barndt for the race.
Chris Buescher ran sixth but his No. 17 Ford also failed inspection twice. His team lost pit selection and car chief Josh Sisco will not work the race.
Other top qualifiers
Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five in qualifying. Their runs followed the penalties that affected other contenders.
Context and comments
Wallace dedicated his qualifying effort to his newborn daughter, who was born Thursday. He praised Reddick’s aggressive driving and credited the crew for their setup work.
The new package has increased horsepower and cut downforce, making cars harder to handle. Teams and drivers described the configuration as a significant challenge at Darlington.
Filmogaz.com will provide further updates and race coverage from Darlington Raceway. Sunday’s 400-mile event will determine whether 23XI Racing can convert qualifying speed into a race result.
