In just five full seasons in the Cup Series, Tyler Reddick has already established himself as one of the best drivers on the circuit.
The 28-year-old has two wins this year with more top-fives (11) and top-10s (17) than anyone else in the field, and he could clinch the NASCAR regular-season championship with a win in Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
So it’s only fitting that he’s channeling three of the greatest athletes of all time with a unique paint scheme for his No. 45 car this weekend.
Reddick to honor all-time greats in Darlington paint scheme
As part of a new sponsorship deal between 23XI Racing and Upper Deck – one of the leading brands in sports cards and collectibles – Reddick’s car will debut a new paint scheme featuring some of the best athletes in the history of North American sports.
NBA superstar Michael Jordan, a co-owner of 23XI Racing, will be featured alongside NHL great Wayne Gretzky and golf legend Tiger Woods in a star-studded design for NASCAR’s points leader heading into the final race of the regular season.
In addition to the paint scheme, Upper Deck will also release new trading cards and other memorabilia for Reddick and fellow 23XI driver Bubba Wallace.
Upper Deck president Jason Masherah said the collection was “monumental for Upper Deck” as it integrates racing back into its lineup, while 23XI Racing president Steve Lauletta praised the opportunity for fans to “celebrate and commemorate” the racing team’s successes on the track.
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High stakes for Reddick at Darlington
Reddick will be racing in style for Sunday’s regular-season finale, and he’ll surely rely on all the mojo he can muster in one of the biggest races of his career.
Entering this weekend, Reddick sits just 17 points ahead of Kyle Larson for the top spot in the standings. Chase Elliott is one point behind Larson as the only other driver with a chance to win the regular-season title.
Whichever driver secures the title on Sunday will receive 15 playoff points, while second place earns 10 points and third place gets eight. That’s a huge difference that could ultimately dictate which of those three drivers advances to the Championship 4.
Reddick has never won at Darlington, but he came in second in last year’s summer race and third the year before.
He led 174 laps in the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway back in May, claiming fourth in Stage 1 and winning Stage 2 before ultimately tumbling to a 32nd-place finish.
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