Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently shared his thoughts on Tyler Reddick’s impressive final-lap move that clinched victory at Homestead-Miami, securing Reddick a place in the Championship 4 for 23XI Racing. In a thrilling final stretch of the Straight Talk Wireless 400, Reddick maneuvered his #45 Toyota past both Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin, sealing his third win of the season. Earnhardt wasn’t shocked by the result, noting on his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast that Reddick’s performance aligned with his expectations.
Earnhardt discussed how Blaney’s choice to switch to the middle track near the finish line opened a door for Reddick. “Tyler Reddick makes the pass on the outside,” he noted, wondering aloud if Blaney regretted not staying closer to the wall. Earnhardt pointed out that, in his experience, a leading car that moves into the middle lane at Homestead often becomes vulnerable to a pass, especially on a high-stakes lap. Reddick capitalized on this, pushing his car forward to take the lead.
Attention now turns to the upcoming Round of 8 race on November 3rd at Martinsville Speedway, where playoff drivers, including Denny Hamlin, will vie for the two remaining Championship 4 spots. With Reddick now in the final four, six of the eight contenders will battle to join him, ensuring high tension on race day.
Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports team is also a contender, with three of its four drivers fighting for spots in the Xfinity Series Championship 4. Justin Allgaier currently leads the team, being the only driver above the cut-off line. Earnhardt himself has deep ties to Homestead, where he last competed full-time in 2017’s Ford EcoBoost 400, finishing in 25th place. In his Xfinity Series career, he’s raced at Homestead 17 times, with his best finish being a third-place position.
In addition to current race analysis, Earnhardt recently celebrated a significant moment for dirt track racing, expressing excitement over the reopening of Pennsboro Speedway in West Virginia. Known for its prominence in dirt racing, the track had undergone renovations but faced delays due to weather, pushing its planned May reopening to September. When the venue finally hosted the XR Super Series for the Mason Dixon 100, Earnhardt shared his enthusiasm on social media, calling it “beautiful” to see the historic track come back to life. He praised the dedication and support that contributed to its revival, underscoring the importance of preserving racing traditions and venues.
