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NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick is riding the kind of hot streak in the Cup Series that Michael Jordan once enjoyed in his playing days.
Oh, you can bet the NBA Hall of Famer is enjoying this one too.
Reddick roared past 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, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Jordan, had to watch from fourth as his driver returned to victory lane.
“This kid is on fire. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down,” Jordan said. “When you win it’s always fun and right now it’s fun for everyone in the 23XI. I’m here and able to see all the wins, I’m so happy for the team.”
All four of the 23XI cars finished in the top 15 in a banner day for the team.
“I have to deliver for the boss,” Reddick said of Jordan. “If he’s gonna come hang out with us, we gotta get him dubs.”
Sunday’s race had been caution-free aside from stage breaks until Cody Ware spun as the white flag was flying.
Hamlin was leading at the time and looked like he was going to win his record-extending fifth race at Kansas. 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 he launched the lead when the green flag flew. Chaos ensued behind them as Christopher Bell jumped Reddick and Hamlin and the #5 car began to pull away.
However, Reddick came storming down the backstretch on the final lap and he pulled away with Larson as they went through the final corners. The 45 came forward as the checkered flag waved and Jordan started pumping his fist in the pit in celebration.
The last driver to win five of the first nine Cup Series races was Dale Earnhardt in 1987.
“Just really blessed with the late caution,” Reddick said. “Was that crazy or what? I couldn’t believe it.”
Hamlin was happy that Reddick won again. But it came at his expense, and he was decidedly unhappy with that. Asked about his level of frustration, Hamlin replied, “Obviously, it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down, devastating. I don’t know. Add it up.”
Larson, the defending race winner, said his car’s balance was off after taking two tires on the final stop, leaving him on the podium for the third time without a win this season. Briscoe and Hamlin were followed across by another 23XI driver, Bubba Wallace.
“That was a good execution for the restart there,” Larson said. “I got to the lead and I thought I could cruise right there to the checkers.”
Except Reddick is the only one who seems to be doing it these days. Even when he’s not winning, he’s had his Toyota running in front. He was fourth last week at Bristol and has been in the top 15 in 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 just think the whole team all year has been really good,” said 23XI president Steve Lauletta. “It’s not the first time we’ve had any kind of adversity and they’ve continued to stay calm, keep each other grounded and know we’ve got a fast car. And if you’ve got a fast car, you just have to execute and that’s what they’ve managed to do.”
Report from the Associated Press.
