Tyler Reddick suffered a major setback to his NASCAR Cup Series championship hopes during Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The 23XI Racing driver started 33rd and ultimately finished 37th after being collected in the massive accident on Lap 132.
Reddick entered the event with momentum after winning the previous race at Phoenix Raceway. That victory had reduced his championship deficit to 56 points behind Kyle Larson with three races remaining.
However, the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing quickly changed his situation. Reddick was among the drivers involved in the 12-car accident triggered when Ryan Blaney lost momentum in the outside drafting lane.
The damage forced the No. 45 Toyota to the garage and effectively
ended Reddick's opportunity to score meaningful points. He ultimately completed 137 laps and finished 37th, collecting just one point. The result left Reddick seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase standings with 2,315 points.
However, his deficit to Larson expanded dramatically from 56 to 126 points. Reddick remains mathematically eligible for the championship, but his chances have been severely diminished. He will need outstanding performances at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami, along with significant problems for Larson, to overcome the deficit.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Tyler Reddick on brink of elimination at Martinsville in 2026
