?They Had to Save Us? ? Tyler Reddick Reveals NASCAR?s Banned Loophole That Could Have Threatened Competitiveness

Leaving fans on the edge of their seats, Ross Chastain flawlessly executed a shocking move last year at Martinsville Speedway. Famously referred to as the ‘Hail Melon’, it was a move that left spectators in awe and drivers in a state of both admiration and trepidation.

The move became the stuff of legend when Chastain used the wall to navigate his car through a critical turn, surpassing several competitors. The maneuver was nothing short of spectacular, as it propelled him from 10th place to a remarkable fourth-place finish. It earned him a ticket to the Championship 4 showdown at Phoenix, too. However, as the 2023 season approached, NASCAR decided to put the brakes on this daring maneuver. While many had differing opinions on the ban, Championship 4 contender Tyler Reddick also boldly shared what he thought of the unconventional move.

Tyler Reddick makes bold claim on NASCAR banning the hail melon move

The risky and daring nature of the move drew the attention of NASCAR officials. Citing safety concerns, they decided to ban the maneuver from the 2023 Cup Series onwards. They seamlessly integrated the move into the existing rule 10.5.2.6.A, and an interpretation of NASCAR’s safety rules now deems such a move as illegal, subjecting the driver to a lap or time penalty.

The rule’s emphasis on safety reads, “Safety is a top priority for NASCAR and NEM (NASCAR Event Management). Therefore, any violations deemed to compromise the safety of an event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of competitors, officials, spectators, or others are treated with the highest degree of seriousness. Safety violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.”

With the penultimate race of this season coming up at the same venue, conversations have been revving up around Chastain’s iconic move.

Motorsports journalist Bob Pockrass recently posed an interesting question to Tyler Reddick about the same, after the qualifying session at Martinsville: “If NASCAR didn’t ban the hail melon, would you have tried it?”

Reddick’s response was candid and unapologetic. He stated, “The entire field would be doing it in the last lap… Everyone would do it. 100%. I mean maybe not 35th. But like I certainly think everyone that… the leader of the race, the guy trying to pass the leader. I mean, just before you know, the entire field is going to do it, right? It’s just crazy how tough the car is. I think, with the clip updates, it will probably switch a little bit more and not be as fast. Ross was doing it last year. Still, I mean, it’s you think about that gate and all the other things, the factors, right? They had to save us from ourselves in this situation.“

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But that is not the only thing that occupies Tyler Reddick’s mind. He will face an uphill battle during Sunday’s race after an incident during the qualifying run.

Reddick will start Sunday’s race mid-pack after spinning out in qualifying

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As the Martinsville Speedway sets the stage for the weekend, Tyler Reddick will face a challenging situation come race day. During the qualifying run, the Californian driver found himself in a difficult spot. Reddick’s #45 Toyota Camry TRD unexpectedly snapped around in the third corner, forcing him into an unexpected spin.

The aftermath of Reddick’s spin left him with a 19th-place starting spot, making him the lowest among the eight drivers who were still in contention to advance to the Final Four. Despite the spin, Reddick’s quick thinking and skillful car control meant that he managed to avoid significant wall contact. This spared his #45 team from the arduous task of making last-minute repairs to his Toyota Camry, or worse, having to roll out a backup car.

Sitting fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings, Reddick is ten points away from the cutline. The pressure is on as 23XI Racing is looking to secure a spot in the Final Four for the first time during their brief tenure in NASCAR’s top tier. However, Reddick wouldn’t be the only playoff driver grappling with a challenging starting position on Sunday. Neither William Byron nor Chris Buescher, fellow post-season competitors, managed to secure a spot in the final round of qualifying. Byron starts the race in P16 and Buescher in P18.

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Do you think Tyler Reddick will point his way into the Championship 4? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.