At the May 4, 2025, Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, 23XI Racing—co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan—faced a disappointing outcome despite high expectations and a reported valuation of $3.5 billion, according to Forbes. Drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace had strong performances throughout the race but ultimately finished in 24th and 11th place, respectively. Team co-owner Denny Hamlin attributed the underwhelming results to key errors on pit road, an issue he detailed on his Actions Detrimental podcast following the event.
Hamlin noted that both cars had the potential to contend for top-five finishes, but mistakes during crucial pit stops derailed their efforts. In Reddick’s case, a miscommunication during a late pit stop led to trouble on the track. Shortly after, he spun following contact with Daniel Suárez, which further damaged his chances of a strong finish. For Wallace, the problem was with tire adjustments. His crew failed to modify the tire pressure properly, a mistake that cost him valuable track position in the final stages of the race.
“We had top-5 cars, but our pit execution was off,” Hamlin said on the podcast. He emphasized that despite having competitive speed throughout the weekend, operational mistakes on pit road were what ultimately led to subpar results.
The fan reaction on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), reflected similar frustrations. Many voiced concerns over the team’s lack of consistency. While 23XI Racing has demonstrated impressive speed and potential—evidenced by their 2023 sweep at Kansas Speedway—executing races cleanly from start to finish continues to be a challenge. Several fans pointed out that these types of mistakes have been a recurring issue, keeping the team from capitalizing on their raw pace and strong setups.
This latest performance adds pressure heading into the next race at Kansas Speedway. Fortunately for 23XI, that track has been favorable in the past. Tyler Reddick, in particular, is considered a top contender at Kansas, and the team is hopeful they can use that momentum to rebound from the disappointment in Texas. Given their history of success at Kansas and the speed they’ve shown this season, expectations will be high for a strong bounce-back effort.
Ultimately, while 23XI Racing has proven they have the talent and resources to compete with the best in NASCAR, Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway served as a reminder that execution—especially on pit road—can be the deciding factor in translating potential into results. With the spotlight growing brighter on the Michael Jordan-led team, especially given its lofty valuation, the coming races will be critical in determining whether 23XI can resolve these operational issues and live up to its championship-caliber expectations.
