Tyler Reddick’s race marred by a sudden radiator leak on lap 132 wiped out a long‑running points lead and pushed him 44 places behind Denny Hamlin.
Mid‑stage malfunction turns ominous
During a green‑flag pit cycle in Stage 2, the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota lurched as water and oil poured onto the track. On the radio, Reddick called “We got a problem!” and warned of “water pressure” issues that left him blind.
A diffuser stay, not a simple puncture
Video footage revealed a crew member holding a stay—part of the rear diffuser’s support system—witnessing the point of arterial damage. Photo evidence by Tanner Marlar later confirmed the stay had been torn from the front diffuser of the injured Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, likely when Reddick’s car slotted into Turn 1 following Kyle Larson’s spin earlier in the race.
NASCAR’s ruling on the mechanical failure
Because the puncture stemmed from a component’s failure rather than a collision, NASCAR allowed the 23XI team to repair the radiator and oil cooler. Had the damage been a crash‑induced rupture, replacement would have ended the race for Reddick.
Championship consequences counted in seconds
With approximately 30 laps spent in the garage, Reddick’s return ended in 36th place. The driver who had consistently finished inside the top 15 for the first 14 races of the 2026 season now finds himself 25th or lower in three of the last four events, widening his lead deficit in the standings.
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