Tyler Reddick Falters as Denny Hamlin Becomes Favorite for Regular-Season Title

Tyler Reddick saw his regular-season championship hopes crumble on 30 Jun 2026 after a radiator puncture at Chicagoland forced a 36th-place finish, leaving him 44 points behind Denny Hamlin, who is now the clear favorite for the 2026 Cup regular-season title.

What happened at Chicagoland?

On 30 Jun 2026, Reddick started 13th at the Chicago Street Course. He ran well early, earning 10th in Stage 1, but on Lap 135 a stray splitter stay ripped a hole in his radiator and oil cooler. The damage sent his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota to the garage, returning 30 laps down and ultimately finishing 36th. It marked his third straight finish outside the top-25.

Why is Denny Hamlin now the favorite?

Bob Pockrass, NASCAR insider, pointed to Hamlin’s consistency after his third straight win and a third-place finish at Chicagoland. Hamlin’s lead swelled to 44 points over Reddick with seven races left in the regular season. Pockrass noted that unless Hamlin suffers a major issue, his run-ahead position looks solid, calling him “the driver to beat.”

How does this affect Reddick’s championship chase?

Reddick entered the race with a 100-point cushion over Hamlin, but the mechanical failure erased that advantage. He now sits second in the standings, still boasting five wins, ten top-5s, and twelve top-10s through 19 races, with an average finish of 11.1. The setback means he must rely on strong finishes and hope for a misstep from Hamlin to stay in contention.

What’s next for Tyler Reddick?

Reddick remains optimistic, saying the team “did a really good job of bouncing back” after the repair. With seven regular-season events remaining, he must convert his strong average finish into podiums. The next race, scheduled for early July at the Indianapolis Road Course, will be a critical test of whether he can close the 44-point gap before the playoffs begin.