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If requested to call the favorites for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Sequence championship, 4 names – Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell – would possible come to thoughts.
Whereas these 4 drivers are tied for the sequence lead in wins, one driver appears to be floating underneath the radar in championship conversations: Tyler Reddick, who completed third on Sunday and presently leads the Cup Sequence with 12 top-10 finishes.
At simply 28 years previous and in his fifth full-time season, Reddick already has six Cup Sequence victories to his credit score, together with his lone 2024 win at Talladega. 2024 has been Reddick’s most constant season to this point, which means the two-time Xfinity Sequence champion will not be off the radar for for much longer.
If Sunday’s Ally 400 at Nashville was only one lap longer, it is potential that Reddick – who drew a bead on race winner Joey Logano on the ultimate lap earlier than falling to 3rd – would have been capable of slingshot round Logano on the skin and take the win for himself. Whereas that did not occur, ending third in a race full of carnage is an admirable accomplishment.
Reddick has seemingly flown underneath the radar all season. After three finishes of twenty ninth or worse within the season’s first 5 races, he solely has three finishes exterior the top-11 within the 14 races since. At Darlington, the positioning of Reddick’s worst results of the season, he was battling for the win earlier than contact with Chris Buescher pressured the No. 45 automotive to pit highway late within the race.
At New Hampshire, a sixth-place end was small comfort for a staff that thought they gained the race earlier within the day when heavy rain swept throughout the monitor. Main when the race was purple flagged for rain on lap 220, Reddick finally pale exterior of the top-five when pressured to return to racing on wet-weather tires.
When bizarre or hostile situations have not gotten within the No. 45 staff’s manner, nonetheless, they have been probably the greatest groups in storage. Reddick’s seven top-fives tie him for second within the sequence, and his 409 laps led rank fifth. He might solely have one win, however the pace and consistency mandatory for a deep playoff run are intact for Reddick, who continues to be on the lookout for his first journey to the Cup Sequence Championship 4.
Whereas successful one other race and increase playoff factors earlier than the postseason begins is essential, Reddick solely sits 53 factors behind regular-season factors chief Larson. If one thing have been to occur to Larson, Reddick could possibly be able to swoop in and steal the regular-season crown from underneath Hendrick Motorsports’ nostril.
Reddick will possible be a contender at Sunday’s race in Chicago, the place he one of many high automobiles within the subject earlier than an incident in 2023.
No matter how Chicago goes, nonetheless, one factor is evident – Reddick must be thought of a Cup Sequence Championship favourite, and deserves the respect that comes with being a top-five driver on the high stage of NASCAR.
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