Tyler Reddick was in pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race in Charlotte. However, the 29-year-old’s mind is preoccupied with concerns for his infant son, who is suffering from a chest tumor affecting his heart.

Rookie Reddick, born in May to Tyler and Alexa Reddick, is their second child. Last week, Alexa disclosed that their son is facing serious health issues involving the renal vein and artery connected to his heart.

Before Sunday’s race at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the couple offered an update, noting that Reddick needed a win to stay in the competition for the Cup Series title.

She said it has caused an enlarged heart, and the 4-month old will need a kidney removed because doctors determined it is no longer functioning.

“He will undergo open surgery to remove his right kidney. We’re just not sure when,” she wrote. “Waiting is ok right now to give his heart a break while he’s on BP medication. They expect his heart to fully recover because it was just an innocent bystander. We have answers but a journey ahead to bring our little Cookie home.”

She added that her son was happy spending time blowing bubbles, playing and ‘interacting with every nurse & doctor that comes in his room.’

Later, she mentioned on Instagram that Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte had reopened its 12th-floor roof deck, where Rookie was soaking up some sunshine. A video in the post captured Rookie’s infectious laughter as his mother played with his belly.

The Reddicks received an outpouring of support online, where ESPN’s Ryan McGee referred to the driver as ‘an all-time dude.’

Reddick had kept his son’s health situation under wraps until his wife went public before last week’s race at Kansas Speedway. She revealed that Rookie was at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, presenting signs of heart failure.

The grandson of Benny Brown, the founder of Nashville recording label BBR Music Group, Reddick was born in California, but grew up in Illinois. He and Alexa were married in July of 2024.

Alexa is the daughter of retired MLB pitcher Jose DeLeon, who led the National League ins strikeouts as a member of the 1989 St. Louis Cardinals. The elder DeLeon passed away in 2024 after battling cancer. 

Reddick finally addressed Rookie’s health at Charlotte earlier in the week. 

‘Healthier is probably not the right word, but I’ve never seen him happier. His color looks good. He’s gained weight. A lot of things are going well,’ Reddick said. ‘All that being said, some of the the tougher moments are definitely ahead. We’re definitely not in the clear. There are some things we need to get through first.

‘So, on one hand, I’m really happy and it makes me feel great that he’s doing much better right now, but certainly we have some hurdles we have to get through first before we’re even thinking about leaving the hospital or thinking about what comes next.’

Reddick, who made it to the championship-deciding finale, enters Sunday’s race below the cutline of drivers who will be trimmed from 12 to eight after the race. The bottom four — Reddick, his 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric — all likely need a victory Sunday to avoid elimination.

‘For me, this weekend where we’re at in points, it just is what it is,’ Reddick said. ‘I’m going to go out there and give it my best effort while I’m here certainly. For me, this week, the elimination, everything that is happening in the racing world is taking a back seat as it should.’

Denny Hamlin, co-owner of Reddick’s car, said 23XI Racing has been supportive and involved in getting Rooke the best care.

‘We’ve tried to do everything we could as a company to tap into all the resources that we possibly can, to get him second, third opinions, all the things, get him in contact with specialists,’ Hamlin said. ‘We feel not a relief, but it is a little relief that they kind of understand now what the path is forward, versus, kind of not knowing.

‘I could not imagine being in their places. He’s got enough to think about. I’m sure he’s probably breathing a little sigh relief that he still goes there to do his job at a high level, given everything that’s going on off the track.’

Reddick will start alongside Shane van Gisbergen, who has won four races this year on road and street courses. The New Zealander is the heavy favorite and any driver hoping to avoid playoff elimination will have to beat van Gisbergen.

Reddick, meanwhile, was grateful for the support he and his family have received and reflected on the emotional impact this has had on his family.

‘Just countless individuals have helped out,’ Reddick said. ‘Countless individuals have reached out, provided support whatever it might be. It’s been really eye-opening. I agree with my wife this is the hardest thing that I’ve had to go through. … Certainly being away (last week) wasn’t ideal.

‘That was a decision me and her came to a conclusion on when I was in Kansas. He was going in the right direction. Yes, like I said, big things ahead that we have to fix, but for that past weekend he was stable and going in the right direction. It was difficult to stay and race (at Kansas), but we were on the same page about it. I just wanted to get off that plane so bad on Sunday night and get back to the hospital.’