The 2022 NASCAR Cup season is well underway and is progressing well. So far, Richard Childress Racing driver Tyler Reddick seems to be one of the breakout stars. However, he is facing a fairly unique problem with the Next Gen cars, and he is not the only one. Apparently, he reported numbness in one of his legs while driving the car. This first cropped up during the February 27 race at the Auto Club Speedway in California.
To make matters more complicated, the problem got worse during the Las Vegas race. Over here, one leg went numb and soon, both of his legs encountered the problem. It is also interesting to note that Stewart-Haas Racing driver Aric Almirola also reported a similar issue in Vegas. Some suspected that the issue is largely down to seat position, but Richard Childress Racing wants to get to the bottom of the matter.
What did Tyler Reddick say about the issue?
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Reddick said, “I think more than anything it’s just having you know no matter where you put your seat, it’s kind of important to have your legs comfortable for you. You know, not too high, not too low. You don’t want to cut circulation off having the pedals too low, on the edge of your seat or having your legs really having a lot of weight or force on the bottom of your seat cutting your circulation off that way.”
Despite the discomfort, Reddick has proven that he is a threat for a race win or a good finish. At the Auto Club Speedway, he won the first two stages, until an accident in the final stage ruined his winning chances. Later on at Las Vegas, the #8 driver grit his teeth and battled to a season-best seventh place. Although he sits 18th in the standings, he has led more laps than any other driver.
According to Tyler Reddick, he is unsure if he and the team have corrected the problem. This is because most of the proposed solutions are tested while the car is sitting in the shop. Nevertheless, Reddick and RCR need to focus on maximizing each finish and they will try every solution possible.
READ MORE: Tyler Reddick Opens Up on Numbness in His Leg During the NASCAR Race at Fontana