Tyler Reddick concluded a difficult week with his second NASCAR Cup Series win this year.
Just three days before his victory at Michigan International Speedway on Monday, Reddick’s mentor, Scott Bloomquist, died in a plane crash.
“I can’t help but sit here in victory lane and think of Scott Bloomquist,” Reddick said. “Huge mentor to me, and an incredible role model and legend of dirt racing and motor sports.
“The last couple of days have been tough. This really helps it. This win should go for him, his family and friends.”
With this win, Reddick moved past Kyle Larson in the Cup standings, and since he was one of the 12 drivers already in the playoffs with a victory, his win created another playoff spot.
This leaves four spots open with the remaining races at Daytona and Darlington.
Reddick also won at Talladega four months ago driving his No. 45 Toyota for 23XI, the team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Jordan, who is a Basketball Hall of Famer and former Charlotte Hornets owner, was at Michigan on Sunday when the race was halted after 51 laps due to rain.
“This is a fun hobby for him, fun business for him,” said Hamlin, who started in the pole position with his No. 11 Toyota and finished ninth. “This fills a lot of gaps of the competitiveness that he has lost by not being part of the Hornets anymore.”
Martin Truex Jr. caused a yellow flag on lap 194 when he got loose in the No. 19 Toyota, leading to a restart with six laps remaining.
Reddick was in the lead on the first restart, but the race went into a second overtime after Ross Chastain, running 11th, was involved in a crash that brought out another yellow flag.
William Byron led the second restart, but Reddick passed him for the 26th lead change of the race. Byron finished second in the No. 24 Chevy, and Ty Gibbs was third in the No. 54 Toyota, which helped his chances of making the playoffs even if he doesn’t win one of the next two races.
Larson, who was favored to win the race by BetMGM Sportsbook, lost control of the No. 5 Chevrolet on lap 115, leading to a multi-car wreck.
