23XI Racing teammates, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, had different reactions to their younger photos. While Wallace was amused, Reddick did not laugh. He snatched away the photo, crumpled it into a ball, and flung it at Dontre Graves, the man who had shown him the photo in the first place, and was holding the camera as well.
Tyler Reddick drives the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE for the NASCAR Cup Series race team which is jointly owned by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and former NBA star Michael Jordan. Reddick, who is on his fourth full season in the Cup Series, won this year's regular season championship. He also won the 2019 Xfinity Series regular season championship. Besides that, Reddick is a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.
Wallace, on the other hand, is in his fifth season driving in the Cup Series. He has two wins to his credit so far. The 30-year-old's first victory came at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021, which was also the first triumph for 23XI Racing in the Cup Series.
In 2013, Wallace became the first African American driver since Hall of Famer Wendell Scott to pick up a NASCAR victory when he won a Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
Donte Graves, who is a media personnel at 23XI Racing, walked up to Wallace and Reddick, asking both of them to sign their respective photos from their younger days. Looking at his picture from 2011, Wallace said:
"This was production day for 2011... I think...should have known.. you're up to something."
Graves had another picture to show Wallace. The Alabama native reacted to the second picture, saying:
"This is before lip injections were a thing."
Bubba Wallace signed both pictures in a jiffy. However, Tyler Reddick walked away the first time without even looking at his pictures. He came back and signed the picture on its back. Moments later, Reddick turned it over to find three pictures from his teenage days, back when he used to have long, golden hair.
"No, we're done here," came the blatant reply.
Tyler Reddick is one of the 11 playoff drivers who will compete for a spot in the Round of 12, in the upcoming Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. Bubba Wallace, however, missed out on making the postseason this year.
Bubba Wallace frustrated amid 23XI Racing's charter conflicts
23XI Racing is one of the two teams that have not signed NASCAR's newest charter agreement yet. NASCAR is currently on an agreement that was signed in 2016. However, that deal ends this year.
The initial deadline to get the 2025 deal signed was before the playoffs kicked off, but the North Carolina-based outfit has held on to their consent due to certain issues with the terms of the agreement.
This has left Bubba Wallace frustrated ahead of the 2025 season. The 30-year-old has said that his future at 23XI Racing depends on his team signing the charter agreement.
"I know my process has been kind of going hand in hand with the charter agreements," Bubba Wallace observed (via gpfans.com). "So, it’s frustrating to see where we’re at because that impacts my life, my livelihood, and everything moving forward for my future."
In 27 starts this season, Wallace amassed 10 top-5s and five top-10s. He sits 19th in the Cup Series standings with 677 points to his name. Despite not being a playoff driver, Wallace will compete alongside his 23XI teammate Tyler Reddick this Sunday at "The Glen". Fans can watch the race live on NBC and USA from 3 PM (ET) onwards.