DARLINGTON, S.C.—Most drivers would be thrilled with a podium finish in the opening contest of the NASCAR Cup Playoffs.
Not Tyler Reddick. The driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet expected more than a third-place run at Darlington Raceway.
Despite battling a tight-handling car—and suffering from brutal heat once his cool suit failed—Reddick still felt he left something on the table.
“I just couldn’t quite put the whole race together,” Reddick said. “I didn’t do a good job of getting in the (pit) box tonight. I just felt a little inconsistent. Ultimately, I wish I could have been better there. Last time we were here, I felt like I was pretty good at that.”
Reddick was fourth when the first caution flew for rain on Lap 6. He remained in the top 10 throughout the first stage and finished seventh. As the sun went down, the No. 8 Chevy grew tight and developed a vibration.
“We all had to work really, really hard on this No. 8 Lenovo Chevy,” Reddick said. “It always stings a little bit when you’re that close, especially here at Darlington. The last two races, we’ve been that close and haven’t gotten it done.
“Just have to figure out what exactly changed. Always something to be learned; but considering all things, at one point we were in a pretty tough spot. I think Ty Gibbs, (Austin) Cindric and myself kind of got sandwiched together and got in the wall off (Turn) 4.”
Reddick recovered and put himself in position to capitalize at the finish. He pitted with race leader Kyle Busch on Lap 319 and was running third when Martin Truex Jr. cycled up to the point on Lap 326. Five laps later, Truex parked the No. 19 Toyota after the belt failed on his water pump and his engine overheated.
Reddick dropped to third behind Busch and Erik Jones when the No. 18 driver reported he was blowing up on Lap 343. Jones took the high lane for the Lap 348 restart with Denny Hamlin behind him. Reddick restarted on the inside lane and never got moving.
“They were searching for air,” Reddick said. “It was frustrating for me because it was the same exact situation on repeat from the spring here. The guy in second used my line—and it really worked for him. It was frustrating because I knew that’s where I needed to be, but they also saw the benefit of running there when someone else was taking the preferred line away.
“I was hoping that Denny would stop running the high side in Turn 1 so I could get it. It was definitely better than running anywhere else.”
Jones held serve to win his second Southern 500. Reddick was third, 0.924-seconds behind. Joey Logano, who finished fourth, took over the points lead. Reddick moved up to fifth in the Cup standings, 15 points behind.
“To rebound like we did and get third out of it, it was a really good night,” Reddick concluded. “It’s what we needed in the playoffs; what we didn’t have here last year. So to get that tonight is great, but certainly when you’re that close and one spot away on a restart from having the lead, it certainly always stings.”
