Tyler Reddick is hoping to go into the 2024 Daytona 500 and score his best career finish in "The Great American Race."
You might think this could be a tough thing to do, but in reality, the opposite is true. In five starts, Reddick has an average finish of 31.2 in the Daytona 500. Reddick has yet to finish in the top 25 in the race, as his best finish is 27th. Reddick has also yet to lead a lap in any of his Daytona 500 starts.
It would be easy to blame luck for the disastrous start to a Daytona 500 career, but Reddick is not blaming luck for his misfortune.
"I've really grown to appreciate it more when I've kinda grown out of that mindset of thinking luck plays into it," Reddick said. "There's a lot of preparation into it. It's a big chess match. You make so many decisions throughout the race that can seal your fate in a good way or a bad way."
It is good that Reddick's co-owner, Denny Hamlin, has been very successful in the Daytona 500. Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 champion (2016, 2019, 2020).
"There's no secret that Denny (Hamlin) has become really good at it," Reddick said.
Reddick did finish 2nd in the summer race at Daytona International Speedway in 2022. A decision to hang back allowed Reddick to survive the huge wreck caused by rain in that race. So, Reddick does have experience of running towards the front at the end of a superspeedway race.
One thing Reddick will need to put behind him is a little tangle with Ross Chastain at the Busch Light Clash. Reddick and Chastain made contact on the final lap of The Clash, which sent Chastain out of the groove and Reddick moved past him. On the cool down lap, Chastain sent his car into turn 1 and pinned Reddick's No. 45 car to the outside wall.
A look at the contact between Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick. #NASCAR
? : @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/wDk1fWTbam
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) February 4, 2024
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Reddick has stated that he plans on having a talk with Chastain before both drivers race in the Daytona 500.
"Now that I have a good understanding of it, me and him will talk at some point before the 500 and either get on the same page or agree to disagree." Reddick said.
Looking ahead to the big race, Reddick hopes to turn in his best career finish with a good run in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.
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