Tyler Reddick entered Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway as the clear benchmark, starting from pole after a dominant qualifying run. However, the 23XI Racing driver’s race took an early hit in Stage 1 after a costly pit road error dropped him out of the lead.
Reddick controlled the opening phase of the race, building a steady advantage. His pace backed up what he had shown all weekend. But the first pit cycle changed the direction of his race on Lap 47.
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During his stop, the crew failed to properly secure the right-front lug nut, forcing the team to jack the car back up and fix the issue before releasing him. The delay stretched the four-tire stop to 16.9 seconds. Reddick cycled back to sixth, more than 11 seconds behind leader Brad Keselowski.
NASCAR on FOX shared the pit stop on X, captioned:
“A slow stop for Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 team.”
The setback was notable given how strong Tyler Reddick had been leading into the race. His 169.152 mph lap secured pole, and practice showed a competitive pace in both single-lap and long-run practice metrics.
Despite the loss of track position, Reddick managed to recover through the remainder of the stage. By Lap 68, Keselowski led under green, with Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace following. Reddick worked his way back into the fight and ultimately finished Stage 1 in second, just behind Keselowski, having led the race for 45 laps.
Tyler Reddick battles early electrical concerns during the Goodyear 400
Even before the pit stop issue, Tyler Reddick’s race had shown signs of concern. His radio communication early on reflected confidence, with the team targeting a race where they could “lead a lot of laps.” That approach held through the opening stint.
But shortly after the start, Reddick reported a problem exiting Turn 2.
“I hit the bump off 2 and that’s when it seemed like something happened,” he said over the radio, pointing to a possible electrical issue.
The team quickly identified concerns around voltage and the alternator system. Reddick added:
“I got the AC off and it bought me half a volt… No warning under pace laps; normal numbers. No light on the alternator; it is a constant off.”
Engineers estimated that the issue could become critical over the long run, though it remained stable in the early phase. The strategy shifted slightly, with Reddick advising that reduced throttle over time could help manage the load on the system.
Even with those complications and the pit road mistake, Reddick recovered effectively. His pace in traffic allowed him to regain lost ground, and he closed Stage 1 in second place. The gap at the front was minimal, with tire management and track position proving decisive.
A battery change under caution was planned as the race progressed, leaving Tyler Reddick inside the top 20 in Stage 2 despite a difficult opening segment in the Goodyear 400.
Edited by Hitesh Nigam
