Victory gives 23XI driver a guaranteed spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12

KANSAS CITY – Tyler Reddick charged from seventh place to victory during a two-lap shootout to win

Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

“Just an outstanding effort by the whole 23XI team,” said Reddick. “We had a really fast car. It’s good to be back in Victory Lane.”

Running among the leaders all afternoon, Reddick took his shot on the restart after the race’s ninth caution forced the shootout.

Those final two laps were the only laps Reddick led all afternoon but they were enough to give him his second win of the season and fifth of his Cup career.

It was also the third win in the last four Kansas Races for the 23XI team – each with a different driver; Kurt Busch in the Spring 2022 race and Bubba Wallace in the Fall 2022 race. Denny Hamlin, who co-owns the 23XI team with basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan but drives a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, won the other Kansas race in that stretch, Spring 2023.

More importantly, the win guarantees Reddick a spot in the playoffs Round of 12.

Hamlin had control of the race as the laps wound down.

Hamlin had a better than two-second lead over Reddick, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and the rest of the field when a late-race caution altered his fate.

With seven laps left, the right front tire blew out on Chris Buescher’s car forcing the day’s ninth caution.

That meant the race would go to overtime, passing the scheduled 267 laps over the 1.5-mile oval.

The running order was jumbled after Daniel Suarez stayed out on old tires and Erik Jones, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch took two tires on their final pit stop.

“I think (taking four tires) was probably the right call,” said Reddick’s crew chief Billy Scott. “We just wanted a solid finish. We figured that it was (A) the right call and, second, the safest.”

Suarez instantly fell off the pace putting Jones and Logano side-by-side heading into Turn 3 when Reddick dove to the apron and passed both for the lead coming out of Turn 4.

He then powered to a 0.327-second victory over Hamlin.

“I really don’t remember the restart,” said Reddick. “A lap went by and I was in the lead. Everything went so fast. I was in the lead and I went for the win.”

“I had a really fast car but I just mistimed it on the restart at the end,” said Hamlin. “I should have been looking forward instead of back and just gave the 5 (Larson) too much room. We were unlucky to get that late caution but I think we made the right call to take four tires.”

Jones finished third, followed by Kyle Larson, Logano, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell,

Brad Keselowski, and Alex Bowman.

“I just needed to clear the 22 (Logano) in Turns 3 and 4 at the end but I couldn’t do it,” said Jones. “It’s frustrating but it was still a good day. I had probably the fastest car we’ve had all year.”

Bell won the pole and led the first 16 laps before Larson took over the top spot.

Larson would lead a race-high 99 laps and won the race’s first stag.

Elliott then took over the lead, holding it for 47 laps, until Keselowski squeezed by to win Stage 2.

Keselowski had first for 23 until Hamlin ran him down and held on for 63 laps until that late-race caution changed everything.

“It’s good to beat the boss,” said Reddick. “Ideally, we’d be able to fill the championship with Toyotas and may the best man win.”

NASCAR’s three national series all head to Bristol next weekend as the playoffs continue.