Tyler Reddick made a dramatic entry into “Championship 4” by taking the win at the Straight Talk Wireless 400 held at Homestead-Miami Speedway. As the race neared its conclusion, Reddick found himself in third place, behind Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney. However, he executed a brilliant maneuver on the final lap, passing Hamlin into Turn 2 before passing Blaney on the outside into Turn 4, ultimately crossing the finish line first.
Reflecting on this emotional victory during an appearance on “Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour,” Reddick shared the pivotal moments that led to his victory. He noted that the dynamics of the race played a crucial role in his success. “Denny and Blaney started to struggle with their momentum in the turns, which kept me close,” Reddick explained. As he approached the final lap, he focused on finding clean air. When Blaney left the inside lane open, Reddick took the opportunity to advance. He recalled: “I didn't lift the lever until I got to his door. I didn't know what would happen next, but I knew I had to seize the opportunity.”
Leading 97 laps over the course of the race, Reddick's victory marked a significant turnaround following his 35th-place finish at the South Point 400 in Las Vegas. This win not only secured him a spot in the Championship 4, but was also his first playoff win in NASCAR.
On the season, Reddick currently sits fourth in total points, accumulating three wins, 12 top-five finishes and 20 top-10 finishes. He joins Christopher Bell, William Byron and Kyle Larson as the four drivers in contention for the championship.
Reddick expressed confidence in his No. 45 team as they head into the final stretch of the season. “The key for us during the regular season was not to beat ourselves,” he said. Reddick stressed the importance of moving forward after setbacks, citing numerous occasions where they were able to recover from difficult situations and secure strong placings.
After moving to 23XI Racing in his second season following a successful first year, Reddick has shown resilience and determination. His focus now turns to the next races, with the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway this Sunday, followed by the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway the following week. With two races remaining, Reddick is ready to make a strong push for the title.
