Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:49:22 +0000
Denny Hamlin has offered a critical assessment of Tyler Reddick’s strategic decisions during the Bank of America Roval 400, highlighting a miscalculation that ultimately led to the driver’s elimination from the NASCAR Playoffs. Reddick entered the race 23 points behind the cutline and, despite a strong qualifying performance – edging Shane van Gisbergen by a slim 0.032 seconds – his team’s gamble proved detrimental.
Following the race, Hamlin, co-owner of the 23XI Racing team, argued that Reddick’s crew prioritized a victory over consistent points accumulation. “I think at that point, yeah, you probably maybe play the race a little differently because if he goes in there and he scores top three stage points in each stage, he would have had an extra how many,” Hamlin stated. Reddick secured nine points in Stage Two but Hamlin pointed out a struggle in Stage One, finishing 21st.
The team’s strategy of opting for long runs to position for a victory, particularly after an unrecognized tire drop-off discovered during Saturday practice, complicated matters. “Listen, nobody’s beating SVG right now. So to make that call, I think, was a bad decision,” Hamlin added. This decision led to Reddick’s early fade in Stage Three, culminating in a finish that failed to close the gap.
Reddick admitted post-race, “I think you could pick it apart—a couple restarts and what not, just kind of, as the race unfolded, our long run was not where it needed to be with the top guys.” He suggested a more focused approach – maximizing stage points initially before pursuing a win if the opportunity arose.
Amid ongoing antitrust litigation against NASCAR that has added pressure to 23XI Racing, Hamlin traced the issue back to a poor performance in New Hampshire earlier in the Round of 12, where he finished 21st.
However, analyst Steve Letarte offers a different perspective. Letarte, formerly a crew chief, believes Reddick possesses the “raw firepower” needed for success. He noted Reddick’s instinctive driving style, which led to a Championship 4 appearance last year, and predicted a strong rebound, arguing that Reddick’s skill remains consistent despite off-track challenges, including his infant son’s tumor diagnosis, and the team’s legal battles. “I’m shocked that he’s winless this year. So, if I had to have one guy who was bumped out that I think could make the round of eight next year, I think Reddick would be my obvious choice,” Letarte stated, forecasting Reddick as the top pick among eliminated drivers to reach the Round of 8 in 2026.