23XI Racing drivers Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Corey Heim, along with Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith, could lose their seats before the 2026 season. This could become a possibility if both teams lose their charters in the legal battle against NASCAR.
The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi confirmed that both teams would “be out of business” after the 2025 season if they lose their charters. That puts all their drivers at high risk. Making matters worse is the lack of enough openings in the Cup Series for the following year. The trial is set to begin on Dec. 1. Addressing the topic while answering fan questions, Bianchi wrote:
“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.”
However, on the topic of who could win the case, Bianchi 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.”
Wallace made news recently after reportedly triggering a 12-car pileup during Stage 1 of the NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. While the 31-year-old driver owned up to his mistake, his spotter, Freddie Kraft, blamed Kyle Larson for the hit.
However, Wallace’s 23XI team co-owner, Denny Hamlin, confirmed that his driver set off the big one. Newsweek Sports reported his comments:
“It looked like to me that Bubba just squeezed those two guys below him down. You could just see that they’re there, two cars on the inside. I don’t know what Freddie [Kraft, Wallace’s spotter] was calling.
“Maybe he was saying three wide top or not — I’m not sure, but he [Wallace] just squeezed on down there, and there was no room. So he ended up wrecking himself, and obviously a few others.”
Speaking on the possibility of Larson hitting Wallace, Hamlin said:
“I’m looking at it, and I don’t think so. The five [Larson] was already on him close, but no. That’s just the 23 [Wallace] not clear. It’s just one of those not-clear moments.”
The post Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick Among Drivers Who Could Lose 2026 NASCAR Seat appeared first on Newsweek.
