A Family's Fight: Tyler Reddick and Alexa DeLeon Face a Medical Crisis.
It's a stark reminder that life's biggest challenges often happen far away from the spotlight. NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick, despite a challenging 2025 season, is facing a far more pressing issue: his family. After a year of highs, including clinching three trophies and the regular season championship in 2024, Reddick is now prioritizing his family over the racetrack.
The Heartbreaking Diagnosis:
In May of this year, Tyler and his wife, Alexa DeLeon, welcomed their second son, Rookie. But within just five months, Rookie faced a severe medical crisis. Alexa bravely shared with fans that Rookie was showing signs of heart failure, leading to a series of medical procedures. This included a stay in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A Glimmer of Hope:
Recently, Alexa shared an update on Instagram, which was re-shared by Jeff Gluck on X. The news was positive: Rookie successfully underwent surgery to remove his right kidney. Alexa wrote, "Rookie came back one kidney lighter. He is recovering and still coming out of anesthesia. The surgery went well and his team is confident he will not need treatment after." She also announced a break from social media, focusing on her son's recovery. "The next couple days he will be sore so I will take a break here while we get him over this hump. They are watching his BP & heart to see how they are responding."
The Medical Details:
Alexa had previously revealed that Rookie had a tumor "choking" the renal vein and artery, which was causing his heart to work harder and become enlarged. Doctors determined that the kidney was no longer functioning, necessitating its removal. This successful surgery offers a much-needed ray of hope.
Reddick's Strength:
Amidst this family crisis, Tyler Reddick has shown remarkable strength. He expressed his admiration for his wife's resilience, stating, "Just really proud of her, honestly, throughout this whole process... She’s been — I hate to even use the word, but locked in, honestly, on everything that’s going on... She’s paying, obviously, very close attention and just giving very good feedback to the doctors on past history and everything." His team owners are also aware of his situation.
Performance Amidst Adversity:
Despite the emotional turmoil, Reddick has continued to perform well in recent races. He secured a 5th-place finish at the South Point 400, marking a streak of top-ten finishes. Denny Hamlin, 23XI co-owner, praised Reddick's ability to excel even during this difficult time. He said, "I’m sure he’s probably breathing a little sigh of relief that he still goes there to do his job at a high level, given everything that’s going on off the track." He added, "I could not imagine being in their places. He’s got enough to think about."
A Challenging Season:
Reddick's 2025 Cup Series season hasn't been ideal. He slipped out of the playoffs after the end of the Round of 16. But the focus is clearly on his family.
What do you think? How do you feel about athletes balancing their careers with personal challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let's send our best wishes to Tyler, Alexa, and Rookie during this difficult time!
