The 2024 NASCAR Cup season nears its end, with only the penultimate race left before we head to Phoenix. And things are getting intense with every passing race. That last lap in Homestead Miami was some of the best racing NASCAR has seen in a long time. After that, it would probably have NASCAR disappointed for moving Homestead out of the playoffs next season.

It all began with the final restart as regular-season champion Tyler Reddick led the pack with 7 laps to go. However, Denny Hamlin was quick to take the lead from the outside, soon followed by Ryan Blaney from the inside line. Hamlin and the Blaney went door to door before the #12 took the lead. As everyone thought it would be a Penske win, the#45 threw a curveball. Although all of it happened in split seconds, the move was calculated as Reddick recently revealed on the Dale Earnhardt Jr’s podcast.

Tyler Reddick dwells on the epic last-lap pass

On the final lap, Blaney was leading, followed by Hamlin with a car and half-length between them. Approaching the final turn, Reddick from the inside line slowly moved up, inserting himself between the two cars on the final lap. However, on the final turn, Blaney dropped to the middle lane, and that is when Reddick saw an opening. Driving around him from the outside line, the #45 took the lead, the chequered flag, and a championship 4 spot.

Recently, Tyler Reddick was on the Dale Jr download podcast where he dwelled upon what unfolded on the track. He said, “I think what was important for me there was making my mind up before even seeing him get in the corner, just let him make the first move and then I respond to it. So what he ended up doing, I didn’t think was remotely on the table, it almost seemed like he was waiting to see what I was gonna do and once he left that lane open on the top I knew I had a split second, I just had to drive it as deep as possible. I had to get at least even with him on the outside so he could run me into the wall and keep on going.”

Reddick was surprised that Blaney left the outside line open. Even the defending Cup champion wasn’t expecting for Reddick to take that line and go past him. Blaney, after the race, said, “Obviously disappointed. Yeah, I had a great shot to win. Didn’t have a very good last lap. Man, I thought I got into three hard. (Reddick) just blitzed off in there. It stuck for him, which is pretty impressive. Yeah, I hate to give one away there like that.”

Blaney leaving that gap open was not the only surprise Reddick got. Driving up against the wall is a challenge in itself and based on how deep the #45  dove into the wall, a wreck, was possible. Yet somehow he did not scrape it. When Dale Jr. asked him how did that happen, Reddick was left speechless. “I don’t know. I really don’t know. I had no mark to really go off of. I literally drove it in the corner, if I hit the wall… whatever for me to have a shot at winning that race, I had to try to get ahead or at least even with him on corner entry. I have been in this situation a few times this year and I have screwed it up every single time.”

But this time he didn’t screw up! When it mattered the most, he didn’t. On the other hand, Blaney made the mistake which has put him in a must-win situation heading to Martinsville. Recently, NASCAR insiders dwelled on why the #12 should not have done that.

Dale Earnhradt Jr on Ryan Blaney’s move

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Blaney did not anticipate Reddick’s move. Post the race, the #12 said, “I don’t know if we gave it away. I mean, we got the lead back after losing on the restart. Yeah, just the last bit didn’t really play out for us. Definitely stinks. Appreciate everybody on the 12 team for bringing a really fast race car. Had a great shot to go to Phoenix.” Recently Dale Jr spoke about the incident.

The NASCAR veteran in his career has run several races on the track, both in the Cup as well as in the Xfinity series, but has never won it. But he knows enough to say that the middle lane isn’t the safest when you have the lead. Jr. said, “Every race that I’ve every watched there (Homestead-Miami), I see that pass happening in 9 out of 10 times. If the lead car goes into the third lane, middle lane, whatever you want to call that, I’m definitely expecting the car that Reddick’s driving to make that pass more often than not.” According to Jr the next-gen car gave the #12 the confidence of having chosen the correct line. However, it proved otherwise.

However, Brad Keseloski’s spotter, TJ Majors also opined on the matter with Jr. Majors spoke about what possibly went through Blaney’s mind that led to choosing him the inside line. He said, “I think that Blaney decided on that lane, he passed Denny there. I feel like he thought that was his fastest line at the time. With a guy like Tyler or Kyle Larson, if they’re behind you, those guys are going to the fence. You take that away no matter what.”

Regardless, the Penske driver still has the Martinsville race to join his teammate in the finale. And Blaney happens to have an average finish of 8.8 on the track. Which is the best among all the playoff drivers. So he’s got a good shot to still go and defend his title. What do you think? Can Blaney progress? Share your comments with us in the comments below.