Bobby Travis · NASCAR/IndyCar Correspondent
A daring four-wide maneuver on the restart propels Tyler Reddick back to the front, and he takes the lead shortly after, shaking up the Chase title battle.
Tyler Reddick captured the Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, marking his first victory since April. On the restart 19 laps from the finish, the 23XI Racing driver executed a risky four-wide move past Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney, then took the lead moments later and held it to the checkered flag ahead of pole-sitter Blaney. The flat one-mile oval in Arizona also delivered massive implications for the Chase title fight, especially for points leader Kyle Larson.
The Move That Decided Everything
Joey Logano dominated the stage proceedings early, winning both Stage 1 and Stage 2, though he finished sixth in the running order. Christopher Bell set the pace for much of the race, leading the field for 85 laps, more than any other driver.
The decisive moment came on the restart 19 laps from the end. Reddick gambled on two fresh tires and pulled off a four-wide move around Gibbs, Elliott, and Blaney. With 18 laps remaining, he took the lead from Chase Briscoe and never relinquished it, crossing the line 0.801 seconds ahead of Blaney, with Elliott third and Bell fourth. For Reddick, it was his sixth win of the 2026 season, his first since Kansas in April.
Larson's Nightmare Day Scrambles the Championship
For Kyle Larson, who arrived at Phoenix as the points leader with a substantial cushion, the afternoon turned into a disaster. Starting from 22nd, he battled handling issues with his Chevrolet all day and earned no stage points. Over the radio, he described the situation bluntly: "No grip. No turn. Definitely no rear."
About 30 laps from the finish, Larson suffered a right front tire failure and crashed hard into the outside wall on the approach to Turn 1. The damage was too severe for repair, and Larson retired, finishing 34th.
The retirement has direct consequences for the Chase standings. Larson had arrived at Phoenix with roughly a 49-point advantage, but after the weekend, his lead over new first pursuer Christopher Bell is down to just 5 points. The title race is wide open heading into the three remaining events.
Tough Breaks for Hamlin and Wallace, Double Trouble for the Dillons
Denny Hamlin also ran in contention for a podium before a right rear tire failure in Lap 221 under green sent him to the pits. He was penalized for speeding on pit road, and when Cody Ware's accident triggered the caution shortly after, he fell a lap down and finished 28th. Bubba Wallace led 52 laps and controlled the closing stages until a pit road speeding penalty under the yellow following Larson's accident knocked him to the back of the field. He finished 17th.
A curious double-team incident involving the Dillon brothers drew attention as well. Austin Dillon suffered a right rear tire failure on the approach to Turn 3 during the second stage in Lap 157, spun, and hit the outside wall in Turn 4, ending his race with a DNF. Under the yellow that resulted, his younger brother Ty Dillon passed the wreckage and suffered his own right front tire failure. Cody Ware also retired early after a tire issue in Lap 221, finishing 35th.
The Chase heads to Talladega Superspeedway on October 25, where tight racing on a flat oval won't decide the title battle, but raw pack-racing drama will. After the razor-thin result at Phoenix, none of Larson's pursuers like Bell, Briscoe, Hamlin, Blaney, and Logano figure to let him off easy.
