Tyler Reddick has only been with 23XI Racing since the start of the 2023 season. The early returns have only reinforced Denny Hamlin's belief that Reddick will deliver championships to the organization.
Hamlin provided the insight after Reddick won Monday's race at Michigan International Speedway. This event marked the 10th time in the last 11 races that the California native had finished eighth or better, and it marked his second win of the season.
And yet, Hamlin explained that the on-track production is not what has impressed him the most in his limited time working with Reddick.
"What I've been really happy to see is that he just works," Hamlin explained at Michigan. "He asks a lot of questions. He's very, very humble. He just really is always trying to get better.
"He's going to come away this weekend with a laundry list of things that he feels like he can do better and the team can do better. That's what I'm most impressed with. It's why he's going to be winning races and championships long after I'm gone."
Reddick delivered success to his previous team, Richard Childress Racing. He won his second of two Xfinity Series championships with the team and then moved up to the Cup Series where he won three races in 2022.
His first season with 23XI Racing, 2023, featured multiple trips to victory lane. Reddick won races at Circuit of the Americas and Kansas Speedway while moving beyond the Round of 16 for the first time in his career.
2023 was productive for Reddick and 23XI Racing, but this season is on another level.
While Reddick and the No. 45 team have missed out on some wins due to mistakes, such as a collision with a wall on the streets of Chicago, they have continued to remain in the mix.
Reddick has already set career-best marks with 17 top-10 finishes and 11 top-fives. He leads the Cup Series in both categories. His average finish (10.5) is the best among full-time drivers and he holds the points lead for the first time in his Cup career.
"He's got an unbelievable ability to drive a car," Hamlin added. "Now that he's putting it all together, he's managing races the way I thought.
"That was the biggest thing I thought he could improve on when he came over, was managing. Now you're seeing these finishes because he's managing the races like a pro."