The word “exciting” probably isn’t enough to describe the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, February 22 at EchoPark Speedway that resulted in a record number of passes and multiple cautions destroying many contenders.
When the checkered flag waved in overtime, it was the same face in Victory Lane after last week’s Daytona 500 – Tyler Reddick. Lined up third on the final restart, he took his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota – with a missing right front fender – to the lead heading into Turns 3 and 4.
From there, he held off all contenders to claim his first EchoPark Speedway win and is the sixth driver in NASCAR history to win the first two races of a season. The last time it was done was in 2009 by Matt Kenseth.
Rounding out the top-five finishers was Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez.
Tyler Reddick Survives Atlanta to Win Second Consecutive Race of NASCAR Season
Reddick, who started first because qualifying was rained out on Saturday, led the field to green. At one point, he was involved in two wrecks during the 260-lap race placing him way back in the field. One such caution resulted in the removal of Reddick’s right-front fender. That didn’t seem to slow him down as he diced his way to the win in the green/white/finish.
“That’s crazy, isn’t it. How about this place?” Reddick said in Victory Lane. “This place over the years, has produced some amazing racing. I don’t know, I guess determination outplays handling.
“Didn’t really know on the last restart, we were way back there in 30th after we got collected with the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin). It was really loose and we just kept making adjustments. On that last restart, they just kept stacking up in the middle and top lanes.
“I just found a way to get back into the top five. At the end, I didn’t really have a choice and had to find a way to make it go.”
And go he did, leading 53 laps enroute to earning his 10th career victory to remaining first in NCS points. The win also gives team owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin the Owner’s Points lead.
Several Multi-Car Wrecks Slow Pace of the Race
As expected on a drafting track like EchoPark Speedway, two and three wide racing was prevalent throughout the event. Contenders such as Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin suffered enough severe enough damage to their cars they couldn’t take the checkered flag.
The final one on Lap 257 forced the overtime finish when a slowing William Byron was falling back through the field after making contact with the outside wall. As cars when by on each side to avoid him, he eventually spun in Turn 3 and collected 10 other cars to bring out the caution.
Another late-race caution on Lap 224 involved the No. 11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin and No. 22 Ford of Joey Logano as they were both running in the top 10. While exiting Turn 4, they made contact with Hamlin spinning to the inside collecting several others. Logano would dive to the infield grass and come to stop on the frontstretch apron.
Hamlin’s car collected AJ Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, Michael McDowell and Connor Zilisch.
Stages Won by Cindric and Wallace
Austin Cindric started 30th for the initial green flag and roared his No. 2 Team Penske Ford to the front. When the first stage ended on Lap 60, he would claim the top points. This was Cindric’s fifth career stage win at EchoPark.
Following him were Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, William Byron and Chase Elliott to round out the top five.
Stage 2 was won by Bubba Wallace as he drag raced Byron to the line. Following them was Chase Briscoe, Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick and Elliott. As they were racing to the line, Kyle Larson tried to block a hard charging Shane van Gisbergen that send Larson into the outside wall and SVG through the infield grass.
The No. 5 Chevrolet of Larson was damaged on the right front and rear, ending his bid for a win.
Up next, time to get left and right at the Circuit of the Americas road course in Austin, TX on Sunday, February 28.
NASCAR’s Tyler Reddick Goes Back-to-Back Winning Atlanta in Double Overtime