Denny Hamlin must have experienced a roller-coaster of emotions after the FireKeepers Casino 400. Starting the race at Michigan International Speedway from pole position, he ultimately had to settle for ninth place. However, as co-owner of 23XI Racing, his driver Tyler Reddick secured his second win of the season, climbing to the top of the driver standings in the process. Whether it’s pride, jealousy, or happiness, Hamlin knows he has a bona fide superstar in Tyler Reddick.

Compliments don’t get bigger than being named the heir to Denny Hamlin’s legacy. But that’s exactly what the Joe Gibbs Racing driver expects from Reddick, who will have some big shoes to fill the day 23XI Racing’s team owner finally retires.

Denny Hamlin impressed by Reddick’s hunger to succeed

With 11 top-five and 17 top-ten finishes, no driver has been more consistent than Tyler Reddick this season. The 28-year-old hasn’t finished lower than 8th in 10 of the last 11 races, a testament to his consistency and evolution as a racing driver. By securing his second win of the season, the 28-year-old opened another spot in the playoffs, having already secured his place in the postseason after a win at Talladega earlier this year. This means that, as things stand, four spots remain available with just two races to go at Daytona and Darlington in the Cup Series.

Speaking about what made Denny Hamlin hire Tyler Reddick at 23XI Racing, the 43-year-old said in the post-race press conference, “I mean, the biggest thing right, is that, you know, I hired him off of what I saw on the racetrack. I didn’t know how much of that was natural talent, I didn’t know how much of that was him working to get better. I didn’t know. I just knew the results and I raced around him enough to know that that guy pushes the edge, and he can find the edge of the car.”

“What I’ve really been happy to see is that he just works, and he really asks a lot of questions. He’s very very humble. He’s just really always trying to get better and you know, he’s going to come away with this weekend and with a laundry list of things that he can do better, and the team can do better. That’s what I’m most impressed with, and it’s why he’s going to be winning races and championships long after I’m gone.”

It seemed like a straightforward victor for Tyler Reddick, who was cruising on his way to the checkered flag before a caution was called. An incident involving Martin Truex Jr. changed the race into a shootout format, with drivers scrambling to get a result in the closing stages. When the race went into double overtime, Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford was seen mysteriously slowing down while approaching Turn 1, which meant that William Byron, who was depending on the RFK Racing car for drafting help, lost his lead to Tyler Reddick with just two laps remaining.

The result meant that Tyler Reddick now holds a 10-point lead in the driver standings, with Chase Elliott in second place. Denny Hamlin is currently third, 28 points behind his employee, while Kyle Larson, who was leading the driver standings, has been relegated to fourth after suffering his fourth DNF of the season. With two more races to go and Reddick showing great momentum, could this be the season where he transitions from a promising driver to a genuine title contender?

Tyler Reddick pays tribute to dirt racing legend

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It was an emotional week for Tyler Reddick, who lost his mentor Scott Bloomquist in a plane crash just three days before his victory at Michigan International Speedway. The late model dirt racing legend passed away at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy of nine national titles and over 600 wins throughout his illustrious career. Bloomquist’s last win came at Thunder Mountain Speedway in 2020, and his contribution to rebuilding World of Outlaws Late Models will be remembered for generations to come.

In an interview after the FireKeepers Casino 400, Reddick paid tribute to Bloomquist by saying, “I can’t help but sit here in victory lane and think of Scott Bloomquist. Huge mentor to me and an incredible role model and legend of dirt racing and motorsports. The last couple of days have been tough, and this really helps it. So this win, I think, should go for him and his family and friends, and all that meant a lot to him.”

With two races remaining until the regular season ends, the 23XI Racing driver will hope to finish the regular season on a high. If he manages to secure the top spot in the driver standings before the playoffs begin in Atlanta, Reddick will earn an extra 15 points per round in the playoffs. This would give him a significant advantage in his pursuit of securing his first Championship title, and the California native will want to capitalize on every opportunity he gets from now until the end of the season.

What are your thoughts on Tyler Reddick being the heir to Denny Hamlin’s legacy? Let us know in the comments!