To say RCR has run the gambit on good and bad news this year has been an understatement.
To start, Tyler Reddick confirmed that RCR had picked up his option year on his contract (for 2023) and followed that up with his first career win July 3 at Road America.
But just nine days later, Reddick stunned the sport – and presumably RCR – with an announcement that he had agreed to a deal to join 23XI Racing beginning with the 2024 season.
The news didn’t seem to go over well at RCR and left a dark cloud hanging over the driver’s relationship with his team for the remainder of his tenure.
Yet on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, Reddick showed his was still a company man and helped teammate Austin Dillon get to leader Austin Cindric’s rear bumper with three of 160 laps remaining.
Dillon nudged Cindric out of the way for the lead and then Reddick spent the final laps warding off any other challengers, as Dillon claimed the win and a trip to the 2022 series playoffs. A win was the only way Dillon would make the 16-driver field.
RCR now has both its Nos. 8 and 3 teams in the playoffs and a total of three Cup wins so far this season – its most since 2018.
“It feels great,” said team owner Richard Childress. “Our guys have worked so hard. Austin has been involved in several crashes (this season), got him behind in the points. We knew this was our shot to be able to win a race.
“He has always been good here, and we knew if we could dodge all the bullets and be there, we could have a shot at the end to win with him.”
Through the chaos
Dillon’s move to the front was a fortunate one.
On Lap 138, as the field entered Turn 1, it began raining on the frontstretch of the track and almost immediately cars went spinning in all directions.
Dillon, who was running 16th at the time, was the first car to emerge from the massive wreck unscathed and was named the leader under caution. The race was soon red-flagged – a delay that lasted nearly 3½ hours.
Once the race finally resumed with 16 laps, Cindric grabbed the lead on the restart with help from a push from Martin Truex Jr., only to see Reddick help Dillon get back by Cindric with three to go.
The teammate dynamic
Dillon said never doubted Reddick would do what he could to ensure RCR came away with the win.
“For me, I was in none of his negotiations, talks, or anything. So, it was more like he has been in a way inspirational to me to pick up my game…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – NASCAR – Stories…