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Reddick Secures Title Shot for Jordan at Homestead-Miami
Homestead, Fla. — Tyler Reddick made a remarkable move on the final turn of the race, overtaking Ryan Blaney to clinch victory at Homestead-Miami on Sunday. This win ensures that Michael Jordan, Reddick’s car owner, has a chance to contend for another NASCAR championship, as they prepare for the high-stakes finale in Phoenix in two weeks. Reddick dominated the race, leading 98 out of 267 laps, with the crucial last lap marking his triumphant finish.
Blaney finished in second place, while Denny Hamlin, who is a part-owner of Reddick’s vehicle, took third. All six top spots were claimed by playoff drivers, with Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and William Byron rounding out the top six.
With this victory, Reddick and Joey Logano have locked in two of the four coveted spots for the NASCAR finale in Phoenix. Reddick’s win at Homestead marks the ninth different driver to take the top position at this track over the past nine years, joining the ranks of notable racers like Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr.
Logano was the only one among the eight playoff drivers to arrive at Homestead with his spot in the season finale already secured, spending most of the race in a mid-pack position. The other playoff contenders, including Hamlin and Larson, fiercely competed for the front during the entire race, with Hamlin briefly leading with just two laps remaining before Reddick’s dramatic finish.
Drama unfolded right from the start, as the race saw its first incident just 25 seconds in when Justin Haley collided with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., resulting in a spin-out. Fortunately, there was no significant damage, as the majority of cars were closely packed together at that time. Haley faced another spin-out around Lap 186, which brought out yet another caution flag for the drivers.
Since being included in the NASCAR circuit back in 1999, Homestead-Miami has typically hosted a fall race and often served as a season finale. It has only stepped away from this role in 2020 and 2021 for special circumstances. NASCAR is slated to return to Homestead on March 23 of next year, though it will not feature as a playoff venue in the upcoming season.
Looking ahead, the NASCAR circuit will head to Martinsville next Sunday for the penultimate race of the season. This event will determine the remaining drivers who will compete for the title in the championship showdown in Phoenix. Blaney and Byron each have previous victories at Martinsville, setting the stage for an exciting race.
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