Tyler Reddick came close to winning the Cup Series race in Chicago on Sunday but fell short due to timing and race circumstances. After a late caution, his No. 45 team made a daring call to pit from third place, gaining fresh tires and additional fuel, and he restarted 13th with 12 laps remaining. Despite quickly climbing back to third, the race ended before he could challenge Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen, highlighting the impact of Shane van Gisbergen racing strategy on the outcome.
Reddick’s Approach to Outracing Shane van Gisbergen
Following the race, Reddick reflected on how he would have tried to keep up with van Gisbergen’s aggressive tactics if he had closed the gap. His answer drew from the previous day’s Xfinity Series event, where van Gisbergen executed a forceful inside pass on Connor Zilisch during the final lap to secure a win. The move sparked debate over its fairness, but <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR officials allowed it to stand. Reddick acknowledged he would have adopted a similar intense style to earn a victory given the stakes.
We can all speculate, but it didn’t come together. Obviously, I saw what Shane was willing to do to win the race on Saturday. For us needing a win to lock ourselves into the playoffs, I would have raced really hard because I think he would have done the same. But it didn’t happen. But we can all dream and speculate what it could have been.
—Tyler Reddick, Cup Series driver
Errors That Cost Reddick Precious Seconds in Chicago
The race’s abrupt end due to a caution caused by Cody Ware prevented Reddick from catching Ty Gibbs for second place, and he admitted the gap to van Gisbergen was simply too large to close in time. However, he pinpointed several missteps that cost him valuable ground. After pitting, he became stuck in heavy traffic, losing time as he maneuvered past slower cars. Additionally, late-race incidents forced him to take evasive measures, resulting in damage to his left rear tire and negatively affecting his braking performance.
These setbacks combined likely made the difference between finishing third and winning. With the regular season progressing, Reddick currently ranks fifth in points, but his absence of race wins has dropped him to 13th in the playoff standings, intensifying the pressure to perform in upcoming events.
The Implications of an Aggressive Racing Style on Playoff Prospects
Reddick’s reflections underscore the increasingly fierce approach drivers like Shane van Gisbergen bring to competitions, where aggressive moves play a critical role in securing victories and playoff positioning. As the playoff cutoff looms, mastering these intense battle tactics could be pivotal. For Reddick and his team, adopting such aggressive strategies may be necessary to advance further in the standings and contend seriously for wins.
The coming races will test how Reddick balances calculated aggression with precision driving, and whether he can capitalize on chances against competitors known for their bold on-track maneuvers. His acknowledgment of van Gisbergen’s style signals a readiness to embrace a more competitive edge moving forward.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes he made the correct choice by leaving Supercars to try a career in NASCAR. This year, he is running his first full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, after spending 15 years in Supercars.
Q. How much did Shane van Gisbergen win in NASCAR?
A. Stewart-Haas Racing shut down after 16 years, partly because it was hard to get sponsors for a team with four cars. Stewart decided to leave the sport during a period when NASCAR and its teams were worried about the sport’s future.
