Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) overcame adversity and misfortune to post a lead lap finish in the Great Clips 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Reddick qualified 21st but wasted no time slicing his way through traffic toward the front. He picked off five positions on the opening lap of the race and by lap 20 he had climbed inside the top 10. Reddick was running eighth when the first yellow flag slowed the race on lap 39.
The driver of the Cooper Standard Ford F-150 pitted for four tires and adjustments on lap 39 and lined up sixth when the race restarted on lap 42. He was running seventh at the time of the second caution on lap 61.
Reddick’s troubles started when he pitted for service under that caution. A miscue on pit road during a routine four-tire stop dropped him back to 19th-place for the restart when the race went green on lap 69. Moments after the green flag waved, his luck soured even more when he ran over a piece of debris, cutting the left-rear tire and forcing him to make a four-tire stop under green, dropping him two laps down to the leaders.
But Reddick and the Cooper Standard team brushed off the frustrating turn of events and remained focused on making up the lost distance. On lap 107 the Caution Clock expired, bringing out the third yellow of the race. Robert Huffman – filling in for crew chief Doug Randolph – made the calculated gamble to stay out, taking the wave around to the rear of the field, hoping for a quick caution to make up a lap and have a chance to pit under the yellow before his older tires worked to his disadvantage.
Moments after the race went green on lap 113 they got their wish when the leaders tangled off Turn 2. Two laps later, Reddick pitted for four tires and a round of adjustments. He restarted 20th when the race went green on lap 116. Two laps later he moved up to 17th-place but was the first truck one lap down and was in position for the free pass back onto the lead lap. All he needed was one more timely yellow to make up the last lap down and put him at the tail end of the lead lap.
He got his wish when the fourth and final caution slowed the pace on lap 124. Reddick rejoined the tail end of the field when the race went green on lap 128. He immediately went to work, gaining two spots during the final three-mile dash to the finish. Reddick is 14th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings, 20 points behind the leader.
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