While Tyler Reddick is considered one of the most talented road course races in NASCAR, it wasn’t always like that. The 23XI Racing driver used to struggle on the rights and lefts until an incident with Kevin Harvick.
There are times when you have a wake-up call and get to work on your craft. That is exactly what happened for Reddick in the 2020 season, his rookie year in the Cup Series.
Talking with Harvick on his Happy Hour podcast, Reddick opened up about that watershed moment. As he was struggling on the Roval course, Reddick got rear-ended by Harvick after over-braking into the chicane.
“You’re, you had some sort of issue you’re trying to come back through the field, and I’m just lost out there trying to go in the backstretch chicane,” Reddick explained. “And I think I’m at the braking zone, right, and I brake so early you a**-packed me I think it destroyed your radiator. It destroyed your race car, right? I’m back here running 30th just in everybody’s way.”
That incident made Tyler Reddick reflect. Now, out of the five Cup Series wins that Reddick has in his career, three have come on road courses.