CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Denny Hamlin mentioned Kurt Busch is beneath no strain to rush up his restoration from a concussion and that 23XI Racing is just not pushing right now to get Tyler Reddick in its vehicles a 12 months early.

Richard Childress Racing had a full-throttle response to Reddick’s deliberate transfer to 23XI, the Toyota workforce owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Childress, blindsided by Reddick and livid, steadied his group this week by snatching Kyle Busch, the crown jewel of Toyota’s fleet.

Not solely did Childress signal the free agent of the last decade, however he signed him to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet – Reddick’s automotive.

With Reddick’s crew chief.

Reddick, it appears, can drive another Chevrolet that does not but exist as he rides out the ultimate 12 months of his RCR contract. Reddick informed Childress in July he was transferring to 23XI Racing in 2024.

Hamlin on Thursday applauded Childress’ restoration in touchdown Busch, the Cup Sequence’ solely lively a number of champion and winningest Toyota driver in all three NASCAR nationwide collection. Busch and Hamlin have been teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing since Busch moved there in 2008.

“Our announcement with Reddick, if you’d like me to take this from a fan perspective, it will be that RCR was caught off guard by it, understandably so, and this was their reply to that,” Hamlin mentioned.

“Greater than possible they bought collectively and mentioned, ‘Properly how are we going to reply?’ Properly, the best way they responded was to get a 60-time winner and two-time champion to fill that seat. They in all probability bought with their producers and mentioned, ‘How can we make this occur?’ they usually responded, and I feel they responded effectively.”

The issue is that Childress appears decided to carry Reddick by the tip of his 2023 deal, solely now he is transferring him to a 3rd automotive. Childress mentioned he’d get a constitution for the third Chevrolet however did not say who was promoting, and the shopping for worth is north of $20 million proper now.

23XI wasn’t in a rush to get Reddick within the group as a result of Kurt Busch is beneath contract by 2023, and Hamlin mentioned there’s even an choice on Busch for 2024. However Busch has been sidelined since July with a concussion and there is been hypothesis the 44-year-old champion will retire.

Hamlin mentioned 23XI nonetheless plans for Reddick to affix the group in 2024, and there’s no strain on Busch to get again in his automotive. Bubba Wallace is at the moment driving Busch’s No. 45 Toyota and received final week at Kansas; Ty Gibbs is in Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota.

“We nonetheless really feel like Kurt goes to run subsequent 12 months, if he would not, we have already bought contingency plans for the 45 automotive,” he mentioned. “If (Reddick) was pushed to the aspect, I feel we might take him. However I do not know that we have to get into pushing to get him early.

“Tyler has actually mentioned, and I consider it, that he needs to reside out his contract at RCR. Largely he needed to do it for his workforce and his guys. With him being taken out of the (No.) 8 automotive, I do not know if that modifications, however I do know Tyler needed to finish what he began there.”

The Sequence subsequent races Saturday evening at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee within the first elimination race of the playoffs. Hamlin is the favourite to win the race, whereas Kyle Busch picked up his solely Cup win of the 12 months at Bristol within the spring when the concrete floor was lined in dust.

4 drivers will likely be reduce from the 16-driver subject after Bristol, and Kyle Busch is beneath the cutline at thirteenth within the standings. Additionally at risk of elimination are Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe and Kevin Harvick.