2026 season preview: 23XI Racing

Editor's note: Today's 23XI Racing preview continues NASCAR.com's countdown of team previews for the 2026 Cup Series season. 23XI RACING Manufacturer: Toyota Engine: Toyota Racing Development Driver-crew chief pairings: Bubba Wallace-Charles Denike (No. 23); Riley Herbst-Davin Restivo (No. 35); Tyler Reddick-Billy Scott (No. 45) Team outlook: After Tyler Reddick reached the Championship 4 in 2024, 23XI Racing took a step back last season with just one victory from Bubba Wallace at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While it was a thrilling win for the organization, 23XI couldn't use it to spark momentum in the playoffs, and both Wallace and Reddick were eliminated in the Round of 12. Reddick finished the year winless for the first time since 2021. But fortunes should turn back in 23XI's favor with a better understanding of what it has within its three-car stable, and it should bring home a handful of trophies in 2026. BUBBA WALLACE, NO. 23 TOYOTA Experience: 8 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 291 starts 2025 stats: 11th in final Cup Series standings; 1 win, 6 top fives, 14 top 10s, 0 poles, 378 laps led Driver outlook: Wallace's season was streaky to say the least. He matched his top-five and top-10 numbers from 2024, but nine DNFs tanked his average down over three spots from the prior year to 18.5. Wallace had the edge over his teammates on the intermediate ovals in 2025 and showed his continued growth on road courses with three top 15s on such tracks (Mexico City, Watkins Glen, Charlotte Roval). If the No. 23 driver can complete races in 2026, he will have an outside shot of being a championship contender. MORE: Bubba Wallace driver page RILEY HERBST, NO. 35 TOYOTA Experience: 1 full-time season in NASCAR Cup Series; 44 starts 2025 stats: 35th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 poles, 2 laps led Driver outlook: Nowhere to go but up for Herbst in his second full-time Cup campaign. The No. 35 Toyota was never within striking distance of its teammates last year, but a completed season in the books could help the Las Vegas native and what he needs to hone in on to have better success in 2026. Herbst did have some relative highlights with a top 20 in a chaotic, tire-management-heavy Bristol Night Race and placed 17th in the Las Vegas playoff race. MORE: Riley Herbst driver page TYLER REDDICK, NO. 45 TOYOTA Experience: 6 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 218 starts 2025 stats: 9th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 7 top fives, 14 top 10s, 2 poles, 169 laps led Driver outlook: Reddick arguably had the biggest head scratch of a 2025 season. Leading fewer than 200 laps, the 30-year-old wheelman was rarely a contender for race wins amid his winless campaign and couldn't find a spark even when the playoffs began. With a new championship format entering the fold this upcoming season, expect Reddick to be in the mix once again and leave behind the bad taste 2025 left pretty quickly. MORE: Tyler Reddick driver page