The 23XI Racing No. 45 emerged from the first hour of Joliet intermediate practice with a mixed assessment, as Tyler Reddick noted the track still needed clearing.
Driver Reactions
Tyler Reddick spoke candidly about his expectations, saying he wanted “to be ripping the top” but “the track just took forever to clean up.”
Christopher Buescher compared the current surface to the simulator, describing it as rough and “a little smoother” but still uneven, with some cars “bottoming out.”
Carson Hocevar admitted he wished a driver had taken the wall earlier, but chose not to risk “the first”.
Ryan Blaney echoed the sentiment that the track will “get to the wall pretty fast” and expects “every lane available.”
Daniel Suarez described the circuit as “Kansas‑like” with bigger, “jump” bumps, anticipating a “good” racing session.
Track Conditions
The Joliet intermediate’s turns 3 and 4 possess distinct bumps that make the ride quality uneven for the hour‑long session. A jump bump appears in Turn 1.
Contemporary cars on the NextGen package see the track’s roughness differently: rear‑limited dynamics contrast with the Gen6 era’s front‑heavy, truck‑arm‑mounted vehicles.
A patch of gray asphalt – lacking rubber – exists in the inside lane, whereas the outside lane is orange, reflecting early race “rust.” The surface has moved quickly out of the gray area, revealing a rapid change in grip during the brief practice stint.
Practice Insights
All drivers avoided wall contact during Friday’s trials. The track’s resistance, described as “clingy” by Buescher, nevertheless showed rapid rubber progression.
Hocevar imagined the track as resembling Atlanta – a “drafting style” intermediate – and expressed nostalgic admiration for the older speedway’s character.
Competitive Outlook
Drivers anticipate the track will “get to the wall” as the O’Reilly Series participants acquire lap time, potentially pushing the “every lane” scenario to Sunday’s Cup race.
The combined input from crew members, commentators, and drivers paints a picture of a surface under transformation, demanding adaptation from the 2026 Cup field.
Track Comparison
Comparisons to Kansas highlight the similarity of the bumps, though Kansas maintains a more consistent layout. Charlottetown is referenced as featuring small, frequent bumps while Joliet offers occasional large jumps.
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