If requested to call the favorites for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Collection championship, 4 names – Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell – would probably come to thoughts.
Whereas these 4 drivers are tied for the collection lead in wins, one driver appears to be floating beneath the radar in championship conversations: Tyler Reddick, who completed third on Sunday and at present leads the Cup Collection with 12 top-10 finishes.
At simply 28 years outdated and in his fifth full-time season, Reddick already has six Cup Collection victories to his credit score, together with his lone 2024 win at Talladega. 2024 has been Reddick’s most constant season thus far, that means the two-time Xfinity Collection champion will not be off the radar for for much longer.
If Sunday’s Ally 400 at Nashville was only one lap longer, it is attainable that Reddick – who drew a bead on race winner Joey Logano on the ultimate lap earlier than falling to 3rd – would have been in a position to slingshot round Logano on the skin and take the win for himself. Whereas that did not occur, ending third in a race stuffed with carnage is an admirable accomplishment.
Reddick has seemingly flown beneath the radar all season. After three finishes of twenty ninth or worse within the season’s first 5 races, he solely has three finishes exterior the top-11 within the 14 races since. At Darlington, the positioning of Reddick’s worst results of the season, he was battling for the win earlier than contact with Chris Buescher compelled the No. 45 automotive to pit street late within the race.
At New Hampshire, a sixth-place end was small comfort for a staff that thought they received the race earlier within the day when heavy rain swept throughout the monitor. Main when the race was pink flagged for rain on lap 220, Reddick finally pale exterior of the top-five when compelled to return to racing on wet-weather tires.
When bizarre or hostile situations have not gotten within the No. 45 staff’s manner, nevertheless, they have been top-of-the-line groups in storage. Reddick’s seven top-fives tie him for second within the collection, and his 409 laps led rank fifth. He could solely have one win, however the pace and consistency mandatory for a deep playoff run are intact for Reddick, who remains to be on the lookout for his first journey to the Cup Collection Championship 4.
Whereas profitable one other race and build up playoff factors earlier than the postseason begins is vital, Reddick solely sits 53 factors behind regular-season factors chief Larson. If one thing have been to occur to Larson, Reddick may very well be ready to swoop in and steal the regular-season crown from beneath Hendrick Motorsports’ nostril.
Reddick will probably be a contender at Sunday’s race in Chicago, the place he appeared to be one of many high vehicles within the area earlier than an incident in 2023.
No matter how Chicago goes, nevertheless, one factor is evident – Reddick needs to be thought-about a Cup Collection Championship favourite, and deserves the respect that comes with being a top-five driver on the high stage of NASCAR.
