HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Tyler Reddick passed Ryan Blaney with a daring move on the final turn of the last lap of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway to lock himself into the championship race.
Reddick started up front on a late restart but was passed by Denny Hamlin and Blaney. Hamlin seemed in position to win the Homestead race but Blaney forced the issue and got around him with two laps to go. Reddick followed suit and pushed his way to the front with an aggressive move on the last lap.
"We were backed in a corner and we had no other choice," Reddick said. "We're fighting for a championship!"
NBA legend Michael Jordan, who co-owns the 23XI Racing team Reddick drives for, commended the whole team after the win.
"I'm proud of him... he just went for it and I'm glad," Jordan said. "We needed it."
The win gives Reddick one of four slots in the championship race at Phoenix in two weeks. One race remains for the remaining playoff drivers to win or have enough points to contend for the title.
"Obvious disappointment. I had a great shot to win and didn't have a very good last lap," Blaney said. "I thought I got into [turn] 3 hard and [Reddick] just blasted off in there and it stuck for him which is pretty impressive."
Kyle Larson brought out the race's final caution with 12 laps to go. He was racing Blaney for second and likely the win but spun out while making an aggressive pass. The caution allowed Reddick to pit under caution and take the lead after he stretched his fuel exceptionally long hoping for a yellow.
Larson finished 13th, still considered a rebound after he was seemingly taken out of contention with a flat tire on lap 47. Larson smacked the wall and was forced to pit off-cycle, but benefited from the incident causing a caution. He spent most of the race well off the pace and below the playoff cutline but was in line for a top 5 before the late spin.
Reddick started on the pole as the first caution flag was waved on lap 1 for a Justin Haley spin. Reddick won the first stage but was shifted out of the lead as the race went on.
Hamlin won stage two after taking the lead from Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney.
Haley brought out another caution with a spin after contact with Ty Gibbs.
Fuel strategy then split the field in half, with Hamlin and others opting to stay out longer to bank on charging back late in the run.
Reddick stayed on track and stretched his fuel extremely long with Blaney, Elliott, and Hamlin pursuing. Reddick was about to hit pit road when Larson spun out but was given life with the caution.
Reddick and Joey Logano are locked into the championship race with wins in the last two races. Christopher Bell is 29 points above the cutline and William Byron is seven points ahead. Larson is the first one out, seven points behind Byron. Hamlin, Blaney, and Elliott are all well behind Byron.