The Tyler Reddick Richmond race incident at the Cook Out 400 became a central storyline Sunday night, knocking Reddick and other 23XI Racing contenders out of victory contention after a chain-reaction crash triggered by Daniel Suárez. The shunt occurred near the race’s midway point at Richmond, severely impacting the outcomes for several drivers battling for the lead.
Chaos at Richmond Shakes Up the Field
Approaching the halfway mark of the Cook Out 400, Daniel Suárez made contact with Ty Gibbs, who was running slower than usual due to tire strategy, which consequently led Gibbs to get into Tyler Reddick. The incident resulted in Reddick spinning out, and the number 45 car falling out of the battle for the win during one of only a handful of caution periods in the race. The domino effect not only sidelined Reddick but also marked a night where all four 23XI Racing cars, including Bubba Wallace, finished laps down after leading a collective 164 laps. Neither Reddick nor Wallace would see the checkered flag on the lead lap.
Daniel Suárez Owns Up to the Incident
The complex incident was traced back to Daniel Suárez, driving the 99 car, whose bump set the chain of events in motion. After the race, Suárez expressed regret, offering his perspective on what unfolded:
“I mean, I feel bad for the 45, I think it was. It really wasn’t intentional, the last thing I wanted was to crash him for no reason,”
—Daniel Suárez, Driver
He detailed how tire differences played a role, saying:
“The 54 already had older tires, and at that point, it’s a two, three-second difference, you know? And when he went to the ottom, he slowed down way more than I anticipated. SO, I bumped him a little bit to get some room. But just maybe a little bit too hard of a bump for the tires that he had. He got a wiggle, and then he ended up spinning out the 45, which really wasn’t intentional. Feel bad for that, but yeah, just a bad situation there. Just trying to make as much time as possible.”
—Daniel Suárez, Driver
Strong Racing Amid Personal Uncertainty
Despite his involvement, Daniel Suárez managed to deliver one of his strongest results this season, taking home a seventh-place finish. With the battle for the NASCAR Playoffs intensifying, Suárez now heads to Daytona in a near must-win position, as making the postseason remains on the line. His future is clouded, however, as Trackhouse Racing announced he will not be returning to the 99 in 2026, opting to move away from the Mexican-American driver after this campaign.
Career Direction in Limbo
With back-to-back seventh-place results, Suárez continues to demonstrate his capability as a Cup Series competitor, yet his destination for 2026 and beyond remains unknown. Options within the Cup Series appear limited, but success winning the Mexico City race with JR Motorsports indicated that Suárez still brings value at the Xfinity Series level. Returning to a competitive Xfinity seat could offer him the opportunity to rebuild for another potential Cup run in the future.
A Costly and Emotional Night in Richmond
Sunday’s events underscored the unpredictability of racing, as Tyler Reddick’s night unraveled purely due to his position when Suárez made contact with Gibbs. While Suárez accepted responsibility for the miscalculation, he avoided disaster himself, finishing well despite his role in the incident. The fallout leaves 23XI Racing regrouping after a strong start, Reddick and Wallace both looking to recover, and Suárez navigating the twin pressure of performance and job security as the playoff chase enters its critical weeks.
