Tyler Reddick: The Underrated Favorite for the 2024 Daytona 500

Tyler Reddick isn’t known for his Daytona 500 glory yet. In fact, his recent record at the Great American Race could even be categorized as ‘dismal, as he has five starts across two teams and zero top-25 finishes. For now, that’s the narrative surrounding 23XI Racing’s No. 45 at the historic 2.5-mile Speedway. Despite a string of unlucky finishes in the Cup Series season opener, Reddick approaches superspeedway racing with a unique perspective—one that could see him emerge victorious on February 18th.

Tyler Reddick is poised to rewrite the Daytona 500 Narrative

In 2012, Tyler Reddick’s NASCAR career was launched in the ARCA Racing Series, where he immediately exhibited his future potential. The California native went on to win his first Camping World Truck Series race at none other than the emphatic Daytona International Speedway at the season-opener in 2015.

Furthermore, in the Xfinity Series kick-off again at the fateful Daytona in 2018, Reddick won his second Xfinity race in the #24 JR Motorsports car, replacing one William Byron by achieving the closest finish ever in NASCAR history. Winning by only 0.004 seconds, his subsequent triumph as the 2018 Xfinity Series Champion was foretold by this prophetic victory.

After being picked by Richard Childress Racing in 2019, the 28-year-old went on to display a string of below-par performances at the 500-mile-long 200-lap super-spectacle. Consequently, he went on to clinch two top-five finishes at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the regular season finale at the Daytona International Speedway.

The Dream Team: #11, #23, #45

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Do not be fooled by Tyler Reddick’s Daytona 500 stats. He’s not dwelling on past misfortunes. Instead, he’s channeling a steely resolve, embracing the “big chess match” that truly is superspeedway racing. As he puts it, “There’s a lot of preparation into it. You make so many decisions throughout the race that can seal your fate… “It’s something I’ve grown to like. There’s no secret that (Denny Hamlin) has become really good at it. (Ryan) Blaney has gotten really good at it, and those guys don’t end up in those situations by luck.” This calculated mindset, coupled with his undeniable talent, makes him a true dark horse, maybe even a final-four contender.

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And then there’s the firepower behind him. 23XI Racing, once an upstart, is now a force to be reckoned with. The co-owner of 23XI, Denny Hamlin, a three-time Harvey Earl trophy winner himself, stands testament to this strategic brilliance. While teammate Bubba Wallace’s consistent finishes at the Great American Race speak volumes about the team’s potential prowess, Together, they form a formidable war room, guiding Reddick through the drafting ballet that is Superspeedway racing.

Don’t blink when the green flag falls on February 18. You might be surprised by No. 45 abandoning the “unlucky” label and adopting a calculated dance. After all, dark horses frequently appear out of the shadows in the wild world of NASCAR, their hooves ready to thunder and triumph.

Read More: Which Drivers Have Been Confirmed for the 2024 Daytona 500?