During the recent Cup Series Chicago race, Tyler Reddick came close to victory, showing a performance that highlighted the Tyler Reddick Cup Series Chicago race as one of this season’s closest battles. The driver for the No. 45 team came up just short, his late strategy nearly paying off against contenders Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen on the city streets, raising questions about the risks he was willing to take for a crucial win.
Reddick’s Aggressive Approach Falls Short Amid Race Drama
Reddick was well-positioned late in Sunday’s Cup Series event, but circumstances did not fall in his favor. When a late caution flag appeared, his team made a pivotal call to pit from third place to put on fresh tires and add extra fuel. This meant he had to restart from 13th with a dozen laps remaining—an aggressive risk in hopes of challenging the leaders.
Despite restarting deep in the pack, Reddick displayed remarkable driving skill, fighting back to climb to third place with a strong series of overtakes. Ultimately, he ran out of laps before he had the chance to catch and pass Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen, the latter having already built a reputation for daring moves on this course.
Insights from the Xfinity Series Inform Reddick’s Hypothetical Plan
After the race, Reddick was asked how he would have attempted to overtake van Gisbergen had the opportunity arisen. Reflecting on the previous day’s Xfinity Series finish, he referenced van Gisbergen’s bold move where the Australian dove inside Connor Zilisch on the final lap—a controversial tactic that NASCAR regulators allowed. Reddick admitted he was prepared to match that level of aggression if a win was within reach, motivated by the need to secure a playoff spot.
“We can all speculate, but it didn’t come together. Obviously, I saw what Shane was willing to do to win the race on Saturday. For us needing a win to lock ourselves into the playoffs, I would have raced really hard because I think he would have done the same. But it didn’t happen. But we can all dream and speculate what it could have been.”
—Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
Errors in Tactics Cost Reddick a Better Finish
The final caution involving Cody Ware sealed the race result before Reddick had time to close the gap to the front. He acknowledged that van Gisbergen remained out of reach, but also pointed to key mistakes that cost him precious seconds. These included choosing the wrong lane after his pit stop, which left him boxed in behind older, slower cars. Navigating this traffic wasted valuable time and momentum.
Reddick also had to take evasive action late in the race to steer clear of incidents, further eating into his chances. In such a tightly contested event, he recognized these lost moments as the difference between finishing on the podium and standing in victory lane. Though Reddick remains fifth in the regular Cup Series standings, his current position outside the playoff cutoff underscores the significance of every point and the intensity of the competition among drivers like Ty Gibbs, Shane van Gisbergen, and Connor Zilisch.
Pressure Builds as Playoffs Loom
As the Cup Series heads deeper into the season, Reddick and his team face mounting pressure to secure wins and solidify a place in the playoffs. The Chicago race underscored the high-risk strategies drivers like Reddick are willing to employ against fierce competitors such as Shane van Gisbergen, who continue to set the benchmark for racing aggression. With more races ahead, fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see if calculated risks can turn near-misses into victories before the playoff field is finalized.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Tyler Reddick get 0 points?
A. On May 16, NASCAR penalized the No. 45 team with a loss of 10 owner and driver points. This was due to illegal ballasts found during inspection before qualifying at Darlington. In the playoffs, Reddick secured a win at Kansas, which moved him to the Round of 12. However, he was knocked out after the Round of 8.
