Tyler Reddick climbing out of his car during NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying at Homestead Miami Speedway on Saturday, October 26, 2024. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Following NASCAR Cup Series track activity at Homestead Miami Speedway yesterday, Tyler Reddick finished on top of the scoreboard and grabbed his third pole of the season at a crucial point in the playoffs.
“The pole has eluded me in the Cup Series here. We’ve been very close and just needed a very good Round 2. I think for our group, we ran a really good lap for sure,” said Reddick.
After winning the regular season championship and almost being eliminated from contention in the Round of 12, Reddick will be looking to keep up the momentum and try to punch his ticket into the Championship Four.
Reddick, who crashed out of last weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a wild flip across the frontstretch, is going to need a good points day to put himself in a position to clinch a spot into the Championship Four next weekend, as he now sits 30 points below the cut line. The speed that Reddick had on Saturday made it clear that the largest threat out of all eight of the remaining playoff drivers could be Reddick.
Reddick finished first overall in practice and had the best 10-lap average out of all of the playoff drivers, showing that his car has pack-leading pace and that if he stays in the front of the field, it could be a long day for his competition.
“All in all, it was a great day for us and looking forward to the race tomorrow.”
Reddick will look to keep his No. 45 The Beast Killer Sunrise Toyota Camry XSE in a good position all day to win his third race of the season and put his name in the Championship Four.
With only two races left before four of the eight drivers in the Round of 8 face off in Phoenix for the Bill France Cup, other drivers like Ryan Blaney are looking to upset the drivers above the cut line.
Blaney, who sits -47 below the cut line to make the Championship Four, has not let that faze him in the slightest. Many would think that his defense of his 2023 Championship is over, but he does not think so.
Ryan Blaney having a conversation with Dale Jarrett during NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying at Homestead Miami Speedway on Saturday, October 26, 2024. (Photo: Ricky Martinez | The Podium Finish)
“I feel like we’re controlling everything we can as a group very well. We’ve just been wrong spot, wrong time, and it’s kinda hurt us a little bit,” said Blaney. “This group is so good at just like putting the past behind us, good, bad or indifferent and just moving on, like, ‘What’s the next job? What do we have to do have to do next?’ And we’re ready for that this weekend.”
Other drivers like Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin will also look to make a statement and make the Championship Four from way under the cutline. Drivers like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and William Byron will be the competition to those below the cut line, meaning we should be in for a crazy next two races to decide who will be fighting for a championship.
The Cup Series races later today at 2:30 p.m. ET and the race will air on NBC and MRN Radio, with streaming also on the NBC Sports App.