Tyler Reddick wins at Phoenix Raceway as NASCAR Cup Series championship race tightens

AVONDALE, Ariz. (KYMA) - Tyler Reddick made the most of a late-race opportunity Sunday, taking the checkered flag at Phoenix Raceway in the Freeway Insurance 500 as the NASCAR Cup Series championship race tightened with three races remaining.

Reddick didn't lead for most of the afternoon, but a late restart with 19 laps to go changed everything. Kyle Larson, the 2025 Cup Series champion and the standings leader entering the race, blew a tire and was unable to finish, opening the door for the rest of the field to gain ground.

Reddick capitalized on the restart, making a move to take the lead and quickly pulling away from the competition.

"I was just surprised, you know, getting to chase that easily," Reddick said. "It was only right-side tires, and they were scuffed, so I was able to get to the inside a lot easier than I thought I was going to, and I cleared him right away, which was very key in getting some distance from the 12."

From there, Reddick controlled the final 18 laps, earning his first short-track victory of the season, his first Cup Series win at Phoenix and his sixth victory of the year, the most of any driver this season.

Reddick's crew chief Billy Scott said the team used the race as an opportunity to respond after a disappointing performance the previous week in Charlotte.

"We had a lot of feeling that we left last week in Charlotte somewhere," Scott said. "We expected to contend the whole time up front, and we felt sort of mediocre. I think we all challenged each other to rise to the occasion and perform better this week, and I think everybody did."

While Reddick and his crew celebrated the win, the updated standings set up a close battle for the championship heading into the final three races.

Larson remains atop the standings despite failing to finish Sunday's race, but Christopher Bell has moved within five points of the lead.

"It's going to be a battle, that's for sure, but we're right there in it," Bell said. "I'm just really proud of our team. They've been doing a really good job of bringing fast race cars and executing races."

Chase Briscoe sits third, 24 points behind Larson, keeping himself in contention as the season approaches its conclusion.

"Three weeks ago, we were 123 out," Briscoe said. "Looking at the thing right now, I think it's like seven cars and 56 points. It's anybody's race right now. So Talladega is definitely going to be the deciding factor, and hopefully, we can go there and survive the chaos."

With seven drivers separated by just 56 points, the championship remains wide open. The series heads to Talladega next, where another unpredictable race could further reshape the standings with only three events remaining.