Following an almost two-hour rain delay in Stage 2, NASCAR set the finish time for the originally scheduled 75-lap race on the Chicago Street Course at 8:20 p.m. local time.
With the two.2-mile, 12-turn course drying out quickly ahead of the ultimate stage and time running out, Reddick was amongst a gaggle of teams that pitted for slicks, hoping they might be faster.
More than half a dozen drivers opted to remain on the track, using wet-weather tyres to keep up track position, including eventual race winner Alex Bowman.
Initially, the tire difference didn’t appear to amount to much of a bonus as Bowman passed Joey Hand for the lead, but a caution on lap 52 for a automotive that got stuck within the tire barriers allowed Reddick and the others to get the higher of them again.
The race resumed roughly 4 minutes before the white flag waved, signalling the beginning of the ultimate lap.
This time, Reddick moved ahead in his No. 45 23XI Toyota, and he quickly moved into second place and commenced chasing Bowman.
Just before the ultimate lap, Bowman after which Reddick hit the wall and all of Reddick's momentum was lost. Bowman ultimately won the race from the checkered flag by 2.863 seconds.
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Monster Energy Toyota Camry
Photo: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsports images
“We had a big lead on Alex there, and I don’t know, it’s puzzling to me. I obviously just screwed up,” said a disillusioned Reddick after the race. “I used to be attempting to stay in a dry groove, and I had good enough. I turned the wheel an excessive amount of.
“I just wasn't focused enough, I guess. I knew I was going to get there. I knew the quicker I got there, the more options I had. It was going to be a little smoother on the (racing) line out of Turn 8.”
Sunday's race was the third consecutive time Reddick was on pace to earn his second victory of the 2024 NASCAR Cup season but fell short.
He led before the long rain break two weeks ago in New Hampshire, but he was not the identical when NASCAR decided to restart the race and finish it on wet-weather tires. He finished sixth.
Last weekend in Nashville, Reddick seemed to be in prime position to catch leader Joey Logano on the ultimate restart because the race went right into a record five overtimes, but he was unable to pass him and finished third.
“Yeah, we just didn't give ourselves a chance to race with (Bowman), unfortunately, with that. I hate that. That's not what this (team) is about, that's not what this team is about,” Reddick said.
“We need to start building on these victories and winning them.”
