Tyler Reddick Interview After Winning at Kansas | VICTORY LAP
About this episode
Tyler Reddick breaks down his Kansas win, explaining how a fuel/pump issue and a restart chaos moment nearly flipped the race before he regrouped and out-dueled Kyle Larson. He credits offseason resets, crew chief Billy Scott, and a more patient, big-picture mindset for turning small gains into wins. Reddick also addresses social media “cheating” chatter, saying the margins are tiny and the team makes the right split-second calls. The chat turns personal with stories about his kids during a sick, long weekend, plus the fun rivalry between Michael and Danny at the track.
Kansas win
"Can we I do want to talk to you about the Kansas win. I felt like watching it live we're all watching you hunt down the 11 make the past. What happened over in three and four that it made it to where you gave up the lead and then how are you able to refocus and do you have to do to get the win."
This part is a recap of the Kansas race—what happened and how Tyler Reddick got the win. They talk through the big moments that changed the outcome.
This segment focuses on Tyler Reddick’s Kansas race, including the key moments that affected track position and the restart. It’s essentially a race-recap chapter built around how the win was earned.
pump
"Yeah, honestly just made a mistake. You know, we had the fuel issue or the issue with the pump down the front stretch. Have to lap for that and that's essentially what happened there."
The pump is what sends fuel from the tank to the engine. If it doesn’t work correctly, the engine may not get enough fuel and the car can lose power or performance.
The fuel pump is responsible for moving fuel from the tank to the engine under the right pressure. If the pump has a problem, the car can run lean or lose power, which is especially damaging during green-flag racing.
fuel issue
"Yeah, honestly just made a mistake. You know, we had the fuel issue or the issue with the pump down the front stretch. Have to lap for that and that's essentially what happened there."
A fuel issue means the car isn’t getting the fuel it needs the way it should. In a race, that can force you to lose time or laps, which makes it harder to win later.
A fuel issue in NASCAR can mean anything from fuel delivery problems to needing to address fuel pressure or supply. When it forces a driver to lose laps, it can completely change track position and strategy for the rest of the run.
restart
"Yeah, honestly just made a mistake. You know, we had the fuel issue or the issue with the pump down the front stretch. Have to lap for that and that's essentially what happened there. But yeah, you know on this restart here just man."
A restart is when the race slows down for a caution, then everyone speeds back up together. Because the cars are packed again, it’s a moment where drivers can gain positions quickly—or get into trouble.
In NASCAR, a restart is when the field is re-accelerated after a caution period. Restarts often bunch cars back up, creating immediate opportunities (and risks) for passing, side-by-side racing, and contact.
three wide
"Approximately 11 and the 20 get tight get put three wide and then, you know, unfortunately, then he comes up into me. I smoke C bell and we all come together."
Three wide means three cars are trying to race side-by-side at the same time. It’s exciting but risky because there’s less space to avoid contact.
“Three wide” describes three cars running side-by-side in the same corner or straightaway. It’s high-risk because there’s less room for error, but it can also be necessary for gaining track position in tight racing.
side-by-side racing
"I got off for really good and Larson really didn't so I mean I just thought I was too far back to do anything with this move but he just he just is tight and you know I was able to get alongside of him here and then from here we were just figuring out how we were going to enter the corner."
Side-by-side racing is when two cars are next to each other while trying to pass or hold position. It’s all about having enough grip and speed to stay even without making contact.
Running alongside another car is a core NASCAR racing technique for passing and defending positions. It often depends on tire grip, car balance, and aerodynamic drafting, especially when speeds are close and corners are tight.
side drafts
"He was trying to side drafts and I was trying to do the same and you know again just knowing how tight he was and one and two gave me some confidence that it was going to stick down in three and four."
Side drafting is when a car runs close to another car’s side to use aerodynamic effects that can increase speed for both cars. In NASCAR, it’s a common tactic on drafting tracks, but it requires precise positioning to avoid contact.
points on your mind
"And yeah, I think just the routine that we have our preparation our mindset how we handle the adversity through the races has really put us in a good spot to be able to grind it out and you know for sure when you know you got points on your mind."
Having “points on your mind” means you’re thinking about the championship, not just one race moment. It can make you choose safer moves so you don’t lose points with a wreck.
“Points on your mind” refers to managing risk based on the championship standings rather than racing purely for position each lap. This mindset affects how aggressively drivers push, especially late in races when damage or crashes can cost valuable points.
drafting tracks
"year I'm like well in retrospect you know a couple of more drafting tracks so it takes a lot of help in a lot of situations so you guys are putting yourself in the right situation but have you noticed social media"
Drafting tracks are circuits where aerodynamics and slipstreaming strongly influence speed and passing. On these tracks, cars can gain momentum by following closely, which can make race outcomes depend more on timing and pack strategy.
split second decisions
"They like yesterday was a prime example of you know how much the little things matter the little choices the split second decisions. You know just the margins are so small..."
Racing can come down to super small moments—like when you choose to pass, defend, or time a move. Those quick choices can be the difference between finishing near the front or falling back.
The hosts are describing how NASCAR races are often decided by tiny, moment-to-moment choices. In short, small decisions made at the right time can change track position and momentum enough to swing the outcome.
momentum down the back
"...we were you know into the 20 and no momentum down the back. Dang you're back to fifth place down the back stretch..."
Momentum is basically how fast and “in control” the car feels as it comes out of a corner. If you lose that flow, you can fall back, but if you get it back, you can catch up fast.
“Momentum” here refers to how much speed and momentum a car carries through a section of track. In NASCAR, losing momentum on a straight or through a turn can drop you back in the field, while regaining it quickly can help you climb back toward the front.
battle the five for the win
"...three and four back to second and then able to you know battle the five for the win. Yeah absolutely..."
In NASCAR, each car has a number. When they say “battle the five,” they mean they were racing the car with the number 5 for the top spot.
“The five” is a reference to another car/driver identified by a race number (in NASCAR, cars are commonly referred to by their number). “Battle the five for the win” means they fought that specific competitor directly for the lead at the end of the race.
victory lane
"...I picked you on the show last week to put in victory lane you made me look real smart..."
Victory Lane is where the winner goes right after the race to celebrate. It’s a big deal in NASCAR because it’s the official “you won” moment.
“Victory Lane” is the ceremonial area at NASCAR tracks where winners celebrate immediately after the checkered flag. It’s a key part of the sport’s culture and is often referenced when drivers talk about their season goals.
C post of the car
"...it’s fun having him put the sticker on on the C post of the car... honestly our whole family was really down not feeling good."
The C-post is part of the car’s frame/structure near the rear side window. They’re saying they put a sticker on that area of the car.
The “C-post” is a structural pillar in a car’s body, typically the rear side pillar between the rear door and the rear window. In this context, they’re describing placing a sticker on the car’s bodywork there.
Cup series
"Letting it all hang out well Michael had everything he needed all the ammo you won practice you won qualifying you won the race Tyler Reddick five time win in the Cup series this year congratulations my guy."
The Cup Series is NASCAR’s main, top-level racing series. If a driver has wins in the Cup Series, it means they’re succeeding at the highest level of NASCAR.
The Cup Series is NASCAR’s top national stock-car division, featuring the highest level of competition and the most prominent teams. When someone says a driver has multiple wins “in the Cup series,” it means they’ve won races at the sport’s highest tier.
practice
"Letting it all hang out well Michael had everything he needed all the ammo you won practice you won qualifying you won the race Tyler Reddick five time win in the Cup series this year congratulations my guy."
Practice is the time before the race where the team tries things out to make the car feel right. It helps them figure out what to change so the car drives better during qualifying and the race.
In NASCAR, practice sessions are used to test car setup and learn how the car behaves on that specific track. Drivers and teams use practice data to adjust things like tire usage, balance, and handling before qualifying and the race.
qualifying
"Letting it all hang out well Michael had everything he needed all the ammo you won practice you won qualifying you won the race Tyler Reddick five time win in the Cup series this year congratulations my guy."
Qualifying decides where the cars start for the race. A better starting spot can make it easier to avoid traffic and race with a cleaner plan.
Qualifying sets the starting order for the race, which can strongly affect track position and strategy. In NASCAR, teams often tune the car specifically to be fast over a short qualifying run, then adjust again for race conditions.
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