BROOKLYN, Mich. — Tyler Reddick capped an emotional week with his second NASCAR Cup Series win this year.
Reddick’s mentor, Scott Bloomquist, died in a plane crash just three days before he won at Michigan International Speedway on Monday.
“I can’t help but sit here in victory lane and think of Scott Bloomquist,” he said. “Huge mentor to me, and an incredible role model and legend of dirt racing and motor sports.
“The last couple of days have been tough. This really helps it. This win should go for him, his family and friends.”
Reddick moved past Kyle Larson into the top spot in the Cup standings, and his win opened another spot in the playoffs because he was one of 12 drivers who had already earned an automatic bid with a victory.
That leaves four spots available with races remaining at Daytona and Darlington.
Reddick also won at Talladega four months ago in his No. 45 Toyota for 23XI, the team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. The Basketball Hall of Famer and former Charlotte Hornets owner was at Michigan on Sunday, when the race was stopped after 51 laps because of rain.
“This is a fun hobby for him, fun business for him,” said Hamlin, who was on the pole in his No. 11 Toyota and finished ninth. “This fills a lot of gaps of the competitiveness that he has lost by not being part of the Hornets anymore.”
Martin Truex Jr. got loose in the No. 19 Toyota on lap 194, bringing out the yellow flag and a restart with six laps to go.
Reddick was out front on the first restart and the race went to a second overtime when Ross Chastain was running 11th and was part of a crash that brought out another yellow.
William Byron led the second restart but Reddick passed him for the 26th lead change of the race. Byron was second in the No. 24 Chevy and Ty Gibbs was third in the No. 54 Toyota, improving his chances of making the playoffs even if he doesn’t win one of the next two races.
Larson lost control of the No. 5 Chevrolet on lap 115 and several cars were tangled up in the mess.
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