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NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is enjoying the kind of Cup Series run that Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his playing days.
Oh, you can bet the NBA Hall of Famer is enjoying this too.
Reddick overtook Kyle Larson on the final lap of overtime to win at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, becoming the fourth driver to win five of the first nine races in NASCAR’s premier series in a season. Chase Briscoe finished third, while Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Jordan, had to watch from fourth place as his driver reached victory lane once again.
“This kid is on fire. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can calm him down,” Jordan said. “When you win it’s always fun, and now it’s fun for everyone at 23XI. Being here and being able to see all the wins, I’m very happy for the team.”
All four 23XI cars finished in the top 15 on an exceptional day for the team.
“I have to live up to the boss,” Reddick said of Jordan. “If he’s going to come hang out with us, we have to get him voiceovers.”
Sunday’s race was free of yellow flags, except for stage breaks, until Cody Ware spun as the white flag was about to fly.
Hamlin was leading at the time and looked like he was on the verge of winning his fifth race at Kansas, extending his record. Instead, all the leaders had to pit, and although Hamlin beat Reddick off pit road, the field was assembled for the overtime restart.
Larson, trying to end a 32-race winless streak, lined up behind Hamlin on the inside and dove into the lead as the green flag waved. Chaos broke out behind them as Christopher Bell bounced off Reddick and Hamlin and the number 5 car began to pull away.
However, Reddick surged down the stretch on the final lap and closed in on Larson in the closing turns. The No. 45 pulled ahead as the checkered flag waved, and Jordan began shaking his fist in the pits in celebration.
The last driver to win five of the first nine Cup races was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.
“I’m really blessed with the late warning,” Reddick said. “Was that crazy or what? I couldn’t believe it.”
Hamlin was happy that Reddick won again. But it was all at his expense, and he decidedly disliked that. When asked about his frustration level, Hamlin responded: “Obviously, it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking. I don’t know. Add it up.”
Larson, the defending race winner, said his car’s balance was off after suffering two tires at the final stop, leaving him on the podium for the third time without a win this season. Briscoe and Hamlin were followed by another 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace.
“It was a good execution for the restart,” Larson said. “I got to the head and thought I could make it to the draw.”
Except Reddick is the only one who seems to be doing that these days. Even when he doesn’t win, he has had his Toyota racing out front. He was fourth last week at Bristol and has been in the top 15 every start this season.
He is a big reason why Toyota is the first manufacturer since Chevrolet in 2007 to win seven of the first nine races of a season.
“I think the whole team has been really prepared all year,” said 23XI President Steve Lauletta. “It’s not the first time we’ve faced some kind of adversity, and they’ve continued to stay calm, stay grounded and know that we have a fast car. And if you have a fast car, all you have to do is make sure you execute, and that’s what they managed to do.”
Information from The Associated Press.
