Reddick’s Hot Streak Reaches Historic Territory

Reddick’s Hot Streak Reaches Historic TerritorySean Gardner - Getty Images

Before Michael Jordan became a National Basketball Association superstar and one of the sport’s greatest scorers, he played at the University of North Carolina for Coach Dean Smith. Smith stressed team above individual and didn’t want his players under a single spotlight. Later, this led to the interesting commentary that the only coach who could consistently hold Jordan under 30 points was Dean Smith.

Oddly, this concept jumped back to the forefront in Jordan’s life Sunday when Tyler Reddick, his driver at 23XI Racing, won for the fifth time in nine races. “This kid is on fire,” Jordan said in the aftermath of yet another Reddick victory. “I don’t know how I can ever cool him down.” (Reddick is 30 years old, a kid maybe in the 63-year-old Jordan’s universe).

No need to cool him down, obviously. Jordan would be quite pleased to watch Reddick continue sailing and fashion one of the best seasons in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series.

Meanwhile, it’s time for mere mortals to consider if Tyler Reddick might be an alien.

The 30-year-old California driver is doing things that remind many observers of two possibilities: 1. That he might be a generational talent. 2. That he might be from outside the galaxy. (Indeed, there was a spaceship spotted on the other side of the moon recently).

David Jensen - Getty Images

Even when Reddick doesn’t have the best car, he has found a way to victory lane. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, led a race-high 131 laps Sunday at Kansas only to lose to Reddick, who led only 10 laps, because of a late-race caution flag.

Reddick’s win total of five is the highest of his career, and he has 27 more opportunities to add to that number. This could reach the point of big-time history.

“We’re going to Talladega (Sunday),” Reddick said. “Hopefully, we can maintain there, get some of these other races coming on after that… Texas, the Glen, tracks where I feel like I’d like to keep growing that point lead.”