Tyler Reddick wins at Phoenix Raceway, tightening NASCAR championship race

Tyler Reddick secured his sixth win of the season and his first at Phoenix Raceway by winning the Freeway Insurance 500. Driving the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, Reddick utilized a late two-tire strategy to overtake Chase Briscoe with 17 laps remaining, ultimately finishing 0.801 seconds ahead of runner-up Ryan Blaney.

The victory significantly reshaped the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings. Series leader Kyle Larson experienced a catastrophic race, finishing 34th after a tire failure sent him into the wall. This setback reduced Larson’s points advantage from 49 points to just five points over Christopher Bell.

With three races remaining in the Chase, the championship battle has tightened, with seven drivers now within 56 points of the lead. Other notable performances included Chase Elliott finishing third and Bubba Wallace, who led 52 laps, dropping to 17th following a pit road speeding penalty.