Sunday (7/31) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tyler Reddick ended July the way he started it, winning a NASCAR road course race.
Tyler started the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard from the pole position. He showed that he had the car to beat as he led the first 12 laps of the race. He relinquished the lead when he pitted before the end of the first stage. That showed everybody that he was going for the win of the race not the win of the stages. Chase Briscoe was able to claim the win of stage one.
During the second stage of the race Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell tipped their hands for their strategy of running the race with just two stops in the pits. It allowed them both to hold the lead of the race for a time with Christopher being out front to win stage two.
There were no caution periods for on track incidents in the first two stages. Cars did spin or go off track during those stages. However, they were able to get their cars righted and go on in the race without NASCAR needing to waive the yellow flag. Stage three would not follow that scenario.
Stage three had more spins and three yellow flags issued for incidents as cars fought to gain the position needed for a shot to win the race. What would be the race’s overall fifth and final yellow flag (including the two for the end of the first two stages) sent the race into the NASCAR overtime of a green-white-checkered finish. Prior to that caution, Tyler Reddick had regained the lead and built a somewhat comfortable lead of over a second ahead of second place.
The final restart of the race was quite wild. Ross Chastain took an alternate route for turn one allowing him to take over the lead of the race. Tyler was able to get back around him though. NASCAR apparently did not like the route Ross took and disallowed his finishing position in the race.
Tyler Reddick was able to hang on to the lead through the final lap and claim his second career win in the NASCAR Cup Series. It is also his second win of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. His first win was also on a road course, the Road America road course. Being his second win of the season, it 100% locks him in the NASCAR Playoffs.
Austin Cindric took home the runner-up finish. Harrison Burton claimed third with Todd Gilliland in fourth. Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard here.
Following the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Chase Elliott continues to be the leader in the point standings. Ryan Blaney moves up to second-place pushing Ross Chastain back to third. Martin Truex Jr. also moves up a spot to fourth with Kyle Larson slipping back a spot to fifth. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series is a trip to Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Sunday, August 7th.
By: Buck Stevens
