Many NASCAR races are often defined by heated rivalries and high-pressure moments. However, amidst battles on track, a rare gesture of sportsmanship goes a long way, and that is exactly what Tyler Reddick did in San Diego on Sunday, earning him praise from a Hendrick Motorsports legend.

During the Cup Series race in San Diego, when in a fierce battle for first place, Reddick banged wheels with 23XI teammate Corey Heim during the final few laps of the race. The championship leader scraped the wall and then accidentally pushed Heim into the wall and gained the lead.

However, realizing his mistake, Reddick lifted off the throttle, giving the place back to Heim. On Tuesday's episode of the "Door, Bumper, Clear" podcast, legendary former HMS crew chief Ray Evernham spoke about this gesture.

"But what Tyler Reddick did yesterday, giving that spot back, to me, says so much about what this sport needs," said Evernham. "Like hard racing, stuff's going to happen, whatever. But it was like, 'Okay, my bad, have it back'. Tons, tons of respect."

Tyler Reddick's gesture might seem small, but considering he is in an active championship battle with Denny Hamlin in second, the decision carried far more weight.

With every point and position becoming crucial at this stage in the championship, Reddick could have easily capitalized on the contact and not lifted off. Instead, he decided to give the spot back to Heim, choosing fairness.

As the gesture continues to earn praises across the NASCAR garage, the No. 45 driver opened up about his decision to do so. 

Tyler Reddick talks about his rare gesture in San Diego 

As the two 23 XI teammates battled it out for the first-place finish, it was Corey Heim who eventually drove to the victory lane. Tyler Reddick had a puncture after their tussle and fell to 25th.

While talking to reporters post-race, Reddick took accountability for the incident and spoke about how he never wants to race a teammate aggressively.

"I certainly overdid it and ran him into the wall, and initiated the contact. Everything," Reddick told reporters on pit road (as quoted by RACER). "So, yeah, just not the way you should race a teammate. One hundred percent not the way you should race."

The No. 45 Toyota driver further spoke about how Heim kept a clean race throughout, and it was his decisions that hurt his race.

"He raced me really clean," Reddick said. "He got the lead fair and square, and I just overdid it. I didn’t have much left, and I just made some bad decisions today, pretty much all day long."

After finishing in 25th place due to the flat tire, the points gap between him and Denny Hamlin is down to eight points. And the battle for the lead is truly on.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak