Reddick Wins Phoenix as Larson’s Trouble Tightens NASCAR’s Championship Chase

Tyler Reddick returned to Victory Lane Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, while Kyle Larson’s difficult afternoon dramatically tightened the NASCAR Cup Series championship battle with three races remaining.

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Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota took two tires during the final pit stop, positioning him to attack on the last restart. He slipped through an opening, overtook Chase Briscoe and led the final 18 laps, beating Ryan Blaney by 0.801 seconds. Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell and Corey Heim completed the top five.

The victory was Reddick’s sixth of the season, ending a 23-race winless stretch after he opened the year with five victories in the first nine races.

For Larson, Phoenix delivered the kind of afternoon a championship leader hopes to avoid. After starting 22nd, he struggled with speed and handling before a late tire failure sent him into the wall. He finished 34th and earned only three points, leaving his championship advantage vulnerable.

Bell capitalized with a fourth-place finish and valuable stage points, cutting Larson’s lead to just five points. Briscoe finished eighth and moved within 24 points of the top spot. Denny Hamlin dropped to fourth in the standings after a blown tire and speeding penalty contributed to a 28th-place finish.

Reddick credited his team’s persistence through the difficult stretch between victories. The organization continued searching for improvements, and Sunday’s combination of strategy and execution finally produced another win.

“There was a hole. I was able to get through it,” Reddick said of the decisive restart.

Bell left Phoenix encouraged by his team’s ability to qualify well, collect stage points and remain competitive. Although his car’s performance faded somewhat as the afternoon progressed, the result put him directly behind Larson heading into the final three races.

Larson acknowledged that his team never found the improvements it needed. His attention now turns to Talladega, where avoiding another costly finish will be critical.

Joey Logano experienced both sides of Phoenix’s championship opportunity. He swept the first two stages and led 84 laps but finished sixth after losing track position. While disappointed to miss a victory, he gained 48 points on Larson and moved within 44 points of the championship lead.

Bubba Wallace also let a potential victory slip away. He led 52 laps and controlled a portion of the final stage before a pit-road speeding penalty contributed to a 17th-place finish.

Complete Cup Series Chase Standings After Phoenix

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Love Dominates, Mayer Nearly Steals It

Jesse Love controlled Saturday’s Timberland PRO 200, sweeping both stages and leading 156 of 200 laps. But Sam Mayer made him earn the victory, closing to Love’s bumper off the final corner before finishing just 0.128 seconds behind.

Mayer’s runner-up finish was particularly impressive after an engine change forced him to start at the rear. Justin Allgaier finished third, followed by Corey Day and Sammy Smith.

The championship’s biggest setback belonged to Sheldon Creed, who entered Phoenix with a two-point lead. A kill-switch malfunction shut off his engine during the first stage break, costing him three laps while his team worked to restart the car. He finished 32nd and fell to fourth in the standings.

Love credited preparation, composure and strong pit work for his victory. He also acknowledged that Mayer appeared faster near the finish, forcing him to push hard while protecting the lead.

Mayer praised Love’s execution under pressure but recognized the championship opportunity that slipped away. Despite the impressive comeback, he remained sixth in points, 86 behind Love.

Craftsman Truck Series: Honeycutt Strengthens His Lead

Kaden Honeycutt took command of Friday’s Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 following the final stage break. Strong pit work positioned his No. 11 Toyota on the front row, and he moved ahead on the restart before leading the final 53 laps.

Honeycutt defeated Christian Eckes by 1.556 seconds for his fourth victory of the season. Layne Riggs finished third, followed by Ty Majeski and Jake Garcia.

Majeski swept both stages and led 49 laps but could not turn his early strength into a victory. Riggs started from the pole and led the opening 43 laps before ultimately losing ground to Honeycutt in the championship race.

Honeycutt credited his pit team and the adjustments that improved his truck after early struggles with rear grip. Riggs acknowledged the winning team’s speed while remaining encouraged by his own team’s consistent performances.

Eckes expressed frustration after his third consecutive runner-up finish. He remained competitive but believed his team still needed to find the additional performance necessary to beat Honeycutt and Riggs.

All three series head to Talladega next, with three races remaining in their respective championship schedules. After Phoenix brought the Cup contenders closer together and strengthened the leaders in the other two divisions, Talladega presents another opportunity for the championship picture to change dramatically.

LOD News Desk

LOD News Desk is the editorial team behind Legends On Deck, delivering timely coverage, analysis, and features from across the sports world. From breaking news and game recaps to emerging storylines and athlete spotlights, the LOD News Desk keeps readers informed while staying true to the stories that matter most to fans.