Written by Sean McKean
After overtaking two playoff drivers on the final lap, it was Tyler Reddick who joins Joey Logano in having won his way into the Championship 4. It was Reddick's first Cup win at Homestead and it will be his first Championship 4 appearance.
As it unfolded
Kyle Larson got a slow getaway from pole, allowing Tyler Reddick to slide into the lead. But, the caution came out by Turn 3, with Justin Haley going for a spin in Turn 3. Haley fell one lap down but sustained little damage.
On the Lap 6 restart, Reddick had challenges from Larson and Christopher Bell but held onto the lead.
Green flag pit stops began on Lap 33. By pitting earlier, Chase Elliott took the lead from Reddick. Larson also got by the 23XI driver.
Another caution came out for a top contender on Lap 47: Kyle Larson. Coming out of Turn 2, he had a tyre go down, putting him into the wall and leaving the carcass on track. He continued with little damage.
Pit road was busy under this caution period. Elliott retained his lead over those who pitted. Four cars stayed out: now leader Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, and Todd Gilliland.
Busch led for a corner on the Lap 54 restart, but Bubba Wallace scythed through to lead the lap. Teammate Tyler Reddick then took the lead back three laps later.
Reddick held onto the lead to win stage one. Wallace and Elliott followed behind.
Stage 1 Results:
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick [Playoffs]
No. 23 - Bubba Wallace
No. 9 - Chase Elliott [Playoffs]
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney [Playoffs]
No. 77 - Carson Hocevar
No. 20 - Christopher Bell [Playoffs]
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin [Playoffs]
No. 24 - William Byron [Playoffs]
No. 48 - Alex Bowman
No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr.
All drivers elected to pit under the stage caution. Ryan Blaney came out ahead of Wallace and Carson Hocevar.
Chase Elliott quickly made it three-wide on the Lap 88 restart to take the lead.
Green flag pit stops again began on Lap 113. Once all cycled through, Ryan Blaney initially took the lead back; however, Elliott took it back for himself 20 laps later.
Denny Hamlin, though, started applying pressure on leader Elliott with only ten laps remaining in the stage – eventually taking the lead with five to. Hamlin went on to take stage victory followed by Elliott and Christopher Bell.
Stage 2 Results:
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin [Playoffs]
No. 9 - Chase Elliott [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell [Playoffs]
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick [Playoffs]
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney [Playoffs]
No. 24 - William Byron [Playoffs]
No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr.
No. 77 - Carson Hocevar
No. 41 - Ryan Preece
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger
In pit stops, Elliott managed to take the lead back from Hamlin.
Elliott began the final stage in the lead but Blaney took it from him on Lap 175. Then, this began a scrap between the two that lasted for six laps, with the 2020 champion coming out on top.
With 81 laps to go, the caution came back out. This time, Justin Haley went for another spin after receiving a hit from Ty Gibbs going into Turn 3. He again continued with no damage.
Blaney restarted as leader on Lap 192.
The final green flag pit stops began on Lap 219. Most playoff drivers came together, but some – notably Hamlin and Reddick – pitted 12 laps later than the others to gain a tyre advantage.
As Hamlin passed Elliott and Bell to move into third with 16 laps remaining, Blaney and Larson started scraping for the lead as Reddick pitted. But, Larson got a little too overambitious while trying to use a lapped car as a pick, going into a spin in Turn 3. This brought out the caution again with a few laps remaining.
Everyone bar Reddick came into the pits under this caution. Blaney came out ahead followed by Hamlin. Larson had a poor pit stop and fell down to tenth.
Reddick led the field away with only seven laps to go, but Hamlin made the move to take the lead. With five to go, Blaney took the lead and looked to be taking victory, but, with a last-lap, last corner send, Tyler Reddick made the high lane stick to win at Homestead.
Provisional Results:
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [Playoffs]
No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)
No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)
No. 41 - Ryan Preece (Stewart-Haas Racing)
No. 4 - Josh Berry (Stewart-Haas Racing)
No. 14 - Chase Briscoe (Stewart-Haas Racing)
No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [Playoffs]
No. 34 - Michael McDowell (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 17 - Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)
No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)
No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)
No. 10 - Noah Gragson (Stewart-Haas Racing)
No. 38 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG-Daugherty Racing)
No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr. (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 21 - Harrison Burton (Wood Brothers Racing)
No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)
No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske) [Playoffs]
No. 31 - Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing)
No. 71 - Zane Smith (Spire Motorsports)
No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 15 - Kaz Grala (Rick Ware Racing)
No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap
No. 51 - Corey Lajoie (Rick Ware Racing) +1 lap
No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) +6 laps
No. 66 - Chad Finchum (MBM Motorsports) +9 laps
No. 44 - JJ Yeley (NY Racing) [DNF]
Provisional Playoff Grid:
No. 22 - Joey Logano: WIN
No. 45 - Tyler Reddick: WIN
No. 20 - Christopher Bell: +29
No. 24 - William Byron: +7
Playoff Cut Line
No. 5 - Kyle Larson: -7
No. 11 - Denny Hamlin: -18
No. 12 - Ryan Blaney: -38
No. 9 - Chase Elliott: -43
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