Tyler Reddick Picks Up A Playoff Win In Kansas (9-10-23)
By: Becca Cottingham Quimby
Headline Photo Credit: Amy Kontras-USA Today
We head into playoff race two which is at Kansas Motor Speedway. We see from the start of the race Martin Truex Jr. falls back really quickly. The next thing we hear is that he believes he has a tire going flat and then he is into the wall hard. He will bring the first caution out for Kansas and put himself in a dangerous situation heading into Bristol next week. After review, they found a hole in the tire that caused it to go flat and ended his day. There appears to be significant damage done to the front suspension. We then see Kyle Larson take over the lead. We will be almost done with stage one when Austin Dillion and William Byron both spin around almost in the same location. At first, it looked like they may be related, but after listening to the radios and reviewing footage they just ended up being in the same location. Kyle Larson will go on to win stage one.
We start stage two and we see multiple drivers either gain or lose spots. Michael McDowell gained five spots while Christopher Bell lost five spots plus additional drivers losing positions. Both being playoff drivers can make or break the remaining seasons. Everything is going well even with Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Chase Briscoe bouncing off of one another. That is until Bubba Wallace blows a rear tire and starts shredding it all over the track. He was pushing to catch up with the leader Kyle Larson. This also broke his toe link which they will need to repair. This led to a three-wide battle for the lead. We get back to green and then something happens to Chase Briscoe. He cycled his engine and was able to get it restarted to get it on pit road. When we go to green Kyle Larson falls backward and well out of the top ten. While his teammate Chase Elliot takes the lead. As we come to the end of stage two things heat up with the leaders. Kevin Harvick will slip backward. While Brad Keselowski will pass Chase Elliott there at the end. Denny Hamlin will catch Chase Elliott as well. Brad Keselowski will win stage two.
We head into stage the third and final stage of the race. Ross Chastain was hit with a penalty due to man over the wall too soon. Harrison Burton will bring out the first caution. With this happening Kyle Larson comes back down pit road for another set of fresh tires. He will then make up a large amount of ground. Harrison Burton’s Damage vehicle clock did run out and that ended his day. Denny Hamlin will get around Brad Keselowski during green flag pit stops. Denny Hamlin has his driver Tyler Reddick behind him. Then Brad Keselowski is right behind them. Everything looks like it is in Denny Hamlin’s power to win until Chris Buscher has a flat tire and brings out a caution. This brings us a late caution. Drivers and pit crews will make last-minute decisions on pit roads. Daniel Suarez stayed out while others went with two tires and others four tires. Denny Hamlin did not get a great restart and this allowed Tyler Reddick to make moves from the third row to get the unofficial win.
