Tyler Reddick snags a NASCAR Cup Sequence Closing 4 spot with a win at Homestead Miami Speedway on Sunday within the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 400.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – In probably the most dramatic Playoff race of the 2024 season – that includes three completely different leaders within the remaining three laps – 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick made a clutch cross out of the fourth activate the final lap to say his first NASCAR Cup Sequence victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday when it counted most.
Tyler Reddick Snags a NASCAR Cup Sequence Closing 4 Sport with a Win at Homestead
Reddick handed his crew proprietor, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin with two laps to go then moved excessive up towards the wall to cross Workforce Penske’s Ryan Blaney within the remaining nook to say the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 400 trophy and safe a place within the Championship 4 in two weeks within the Phoenix Raceway season finale.
His crew proprietor, NBA Legend Michael Jordan raised his arms and cheered loudly from pit lane as Reddick celebrated on the entrance stretch after the race,
“Little child [Reddick] drove his ass off and I’m pleased with him,” exclaimed Jordan. “He didn’t let go, he simply went for it and we wanted it. We wanted it.”
After getting an enormous hug from Jordan, Reddick – the Common Season Champion – was all smiles, pleased with his transfer and his 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota crew – which put him out entrance for a race-best 97 of the 267 laps – and finally handed him the prospect on the win after a late race warning flag pressured a restart with solely seven laps remaining. It marks his eighth profession collection win and third of the season.
“I don’t know, we had been backed in a nook and had no different alternative – I knew we had been on a tire deficit and right here at Homestead that’s a dying sentence, however I didn’t care,” Reddick mentioned of transferring again into the lead after being handed in a four-wide transfer on the re-start solely to work his means again to the purpose within the remaining six laps.
Recapping the Final Laps
As a result of he had simply pitted for tires 4 laps earlier than that remaining warning flag, Reddick was positioned on the entrance row for that re-start – the one driver who stayed out throughout that remaining pit cycle as a result of he had simply pit for contemporary tires 4 laps earlier. He restarted on the entrance row alongside Blaney however was fourth a lap later within the frenzied remaining run.
“We did what it took to win this race and we’re combating for a championship,” mentioned the 28-year-old Californian, who grew to become solely the second driver in 22 years to win at Homestead from pole place.
“I couldn’t imagine it,” he added of the cross “I simply knew I wanted to get even with him on his proper aspect door and he raced me clear and I admire it. I’m simply actually, actually excited having a shot on the championship.”
Whereas the win vaulted Reddick to an automated Playoff berth, it left Blaney and Hamlin in must-win positions heading into subsequent week’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Workforce Penske’s Joey Logano claimed the primary Championship 4 entry final week in Las Vegas. With Reddick’s victory Sunday solely two positions are nonetheless out there for the race for the 2024 title.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, who completed fourth Sunday, leads the factors standings. He holds a 27-point edge on the Playoff cutoff line. Sunday’s sixth-place finisher, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron is in that fourth. He fills the ultimate switch place within the standings with a 7-point cushion over his teammate Kyle Larson.
JGR’s Hamlin is now sixth, 18 factors again. The reigning collection champion Blaney is seventh, 38 factors behind Byron. Hendrick’s Chase Elliott, who completed fifth at Homestead, is ranked eighth, 43 factors under the cutoff line.
“Clearly, it’s disappointment – had an ideal shot to win and didn’t have an excellent final lap,” Blaney mentioned. “Man, I believed I bought into [turn] three arduous and the 45 [Reddick] simply blitzed up in there and it caught for him which may be very spectacular.
“Hate to offer one away like that, though I don’t know if we gave it away. Obtained the lead again after shedding it on the re-start and simply final lap simply didn’t play out for us. Simply actually stinks. I admire everybody on the 12-team for bringing a extremely quick race automobile. We had a extremely quick race automobile and I had a extremely nice shot to go to Phoenix and nonetheless have yet another probability.”
Byron positioned sixth Sunday, adopted by his Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman. Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger was eighth with Spire Motorsports rookie Carson Hocevar, and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece as the highest ten finishers.
Up Subsequent
The ultimate alternative for drivers to safe a place within the Championship 4 is subsequent Sunday, November third. The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway begins at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Ryan Blaney is the defending race winner and Byron received there this Spring.
NOTE: Elliott, Blaney, and Bell have previous wins at Martinsville to land Championship 4 berths.
