The year 2025 was a difficult one for Tyler Reddick, both on and off the track. And his NASCAR difficulties paled in comparison to the turmoil caused by his son Rookie’s failing health. Thankfully, 2026 has been better so far on all fronts.
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Reddick won the Daytona 500 to kick off the season in the best possible way. After failing to reach Victory Lane last year, the win carried added significance. To add to his joy, Rookie was also present. The nine-month-old infant was in Reddick’s wife Alexa’s arms as he celebrated the victory with his family and the 23XI Racing staff.
However, a quick question popped into everyone’s mind. How was Rookie’s health?
Rookie was born on May 25, 2025. In late September, he was taken to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte after showing signs of heart failure. Doctors discovered a tumor in his chest that was compressing his renal artery and vein, placing added strain on his heart.
In October, surgeons successfully removed his right kidney, and he was discharged later that month. Rookie has been recuperating since then. One can only imagine the mental strength Reddick had to summon to race while dealing with all those hardships. That made this moment of victory at Daytona feel that much sweeter for Reddick.
“Yeah, he’s [Reddick’s] here. He did great. He came home around the Martinsville weekend last year,” said Reddick when reporters asked him about his son’s health.
“He’s just been doing really good ever since he came home. He was doing good in the hospital, too. But yeah, it was really cool,” the 23XI Racing driver added.
Reddick also spoke about a three-day Disney cruise the family had taken, adding that his son had just learned to crawl.
“He’s been like a speedster crawling fast. He’s seen some of the other kids, some of Briscoe’s kids, some of the other little ones running around the playground that probably weigh less than Rookie — he’s a big kid for his age — walking, and he wants to already do that, too,” said Reddick, beaming.
Like father, like son
Reddick’s elder son, Beau, was also at Daytona on Sunday. The driver spoke about how special it was to have him in the car after the win. Seeing the family soak in the moment after enduring so many intense battles was heartwarming.
Reddick also shared that Rookie is already showing a fondness for loud, explosive moments. “I think I remember when Beau was really young, when the Thunderbirds would go over the track, whatever it was, things that were super chaotic, Beau was okay with, but he’d cry. Rookie, he’s the total opposite,” he said.
The crazier and louder things are, the more Rookie loves it. “He’s wild. Like his dad,” Reddick concluded.
