Tyler Reddick – Phoenix International Raceway Recap 2016

The driver of the No. 29 Cooper Standard Careers For Veterans Ford F-150 qualified in the 13th position and ran inside the top 15 during the opening stages of the 150-lap race. Reddick steadily moved forward despite a tight handling condition and four early cautions, climbing into the top 10 on lap 32.  He was running 11th when the fifth caution slowed the pace on lap 65 and set up a round of caution flag pit stops on lap 68.

 

Crew chief Doug Randolph called his driver to pit lane for a change of right-side tires and other adjustments, a strategic move to give his driver precious track position.  Reddick emerged from pit lane with the lead on lap 69 – a gain of 11 positions – and held the top spot for the next four laps and through the restart on lap 73.

 

Reddick did an admirable job hanging with the leaders despite the fact his fellow competitors had changed all four tires. He settled into the fifth position as the race moved past the 100-lap mark.  Reddick lined up 11th for the restart following the eighth caution on lap 111. The intense racing was not kind to Reddick, who at one point was squeezed out of line near the wall in Turn 2, kicking up a cloud of dust in the process. He fell in line 13th once things settled down, and was holding firm to the position at the time of the ninth and final caution on lap 142.

 

Randolph called his driver to pit lane on lap 143 for a four-tire stop.  He restarted 15th for the final four-lap dash to the checkered flag on lap 147. Reddick motored through traffic to score a 12th-place finish.