Tyler Reddick hopes to unleash the beast for a Sonoma win. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
SONOMA, Calif. – Observers may point to Tyler Reddick emerging as a road course specialist last year, especially when he earned his first two career Cup wins at Road America and Indianapolis.
While those victories were memorable and significant in the Corning, California native’s rising stock in the NASCAR Cup Series, the driver of the No. 45 Beast Unleashed Toyota Camry entry showcased his prowess at the serpentine tracks in 2021.
Witness: Reddick placed ninth at COTA, eighth at Road America, 10th at Watkins Glen and second at the Charlotte ROVAL. By and large, it should not come as a surprise that the two-time NASCAR XFINITY Series champion tallied his first career Cup wins at road courses.
Earlier this year, Reddick tallied another road course win with a hard fought triumph at COTA in Austin, Texas, the first triumph with his 23XI Racing team. All things considered, the 27-year-old racer enters Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at the 1.99-mile Sonoma Raceway as a bonafide favorite.
For starters, he qualified second after posting the fourth quickest time in Saturday’s practice session. Without a doubt, the four-time Cup race winner has a good view of the front of the field, starting alongside Denny Hamlin, a principal owner of his No. 45 car.
Reddick was a strong road course specialist in 2022 with an average finish of 9,5. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
“I’m really excited about how (Sunday) will play out,” Reddick said in a Twitter clip after qualifying. “The boss one upped me in qualifying, but that’s OK. It’s great to see that group improve. We’ve got a really strong Beast Unleashed Toyota Camry, but we’ve got to beat our boss. We’re starting right next to him.”
Reddick hopes to rebound after a 35th place, crash related result at Gateway last Sunday. Dropping from seventh to ninth in the championship standings, another day like COTA, where he started second and led for 41 laps en route to a victory, seems like a good elixir.
Throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Reddick has been consistent, fast and one of Toyota Racing’s reliable contenders on race day. If not for a somewhat slow start to the year, Reddick may be the manufacturer’s top driver based on his incredible race craft and poise in clutch moments.
Last year, started fifth but finished 35th, 14 laps off the pace. Still, he was one of the Cup Series’ best road course race winners with fifth at COTA, wins at Road America and Indianapolis, seventh at Watkins Glen and eighth at the Charlotte ROVAL.
Much like those old adult beverage commercials of the 1990s, Reddick looks to follow through with his car’s message. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)
When tabulating those numbers, Reddick tallied an impressive average finish of 9.5, made even more remarkable when considering the news of his move from Richard Childress Racing to 23XI Racing.
Drivers can be creatures of habit or believing in superstitions. Although Reddick may not be the first to read his horoscope to hinge his hopes on the words found on a newspaper, he may like his chances on Sunday considering he starts from the same position as his win at COTA.
“I’m excited to see how the race plays out,” he said. “This scenery here in California is some of the best, and it’s great to be this close to home and get to see some family and friends as well.”
