Denny Hamlin lambasts Tyler Reddick’s team over Darlington debacle that screwed up Kevin Harvick, says it’s a ‘continued problem’

Tyler Reddick claimed the second step on the rostrum at the opening playoffs race at Darlington.

Denny Hamlin lambasts Tyler Reddick’s team over Darlington debacle that screwed up Kevin Harvick, says it’s a ‘continued problem’

Tyler Reddick (Left), Denny Hamlin (Middle) and Kevin Harvick (Right) (Credits: IMAGO)

In NASCAR, where strategy can make or break a race, the inaugural playoff race at Darlington took an unexpected turn for veteran driver Kevin Harvick. What made it even more surprising was the stance taken by Denny Hamlin, the co-owner of 23XI Racing. He not only exonerated Harvick but also openly voiced criticism of his own team’s driver, Tyler Reddick.

The heart of the matter lay in the racing strategy known as the “undercut.” Harvick, poised for a strong performance, was planning to employ this tactic to gain an edge over his rivals, particularly Tyler Reddick. The undercut involves pitting earlier than the driver you are chasing, aiming to emerge with fresher tires and a potential advantage.

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Denny Hamlin, dissecting the incident on his Actions Detrimental podcast, remarked on the situation. “So as I understood it, basically Harvick was going to undercut Reddick,” he began. “In the efforts that that one extra lap on tires that will be about a second and a half faster, will then put him in front of Reddick.”

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The twist in this tale came from the actions of Hamlin’s driver, Reddick. When Harvick was on the cusp of executing his planned pit stop, the #45 team decided to pit simultaneously, hoping to thwart Harvick’s strategy. Hamlin was less than pleased, saying, “This is a continued problem with the #45 of pitting under green. But they’ve got to stop taking the chances that they’re taking.”

Discover: Kyle Petty labels Kevin Harvick and Michael McDowell as the ‘biggest losers’ at Darlington

Denny Hamlin cautioned the team they need to stop taking risks and live to fight for another lap

Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin
Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin (Credits: The Virginian Plot)

Hamlin’s critique extended to the risks involved in such a strategy. He emphasized the perilous nature of the decision, noting that it could have ended in disaster. “Live to run another lap like putting yourself in immediate danger,” he cautioned. “Thank goodness, Newman checked up and essentially spun himself. But you know, I get it,” he concluded.

However, Hamlin unexpectedly extended his support to Harvick following the incident. He acknowledged that Harvick was in close proximity, and you can’t afford to take such risks. Attempting to enter pit road had unfortunate consequences for Harvick; it was a detrimental move.

The consequences of this pit stop debacle were dire for Harvick. He faced a penalty for pitting after pit road had closed, which ultimately shattered his chances of victory. He went from a position of strength to finishing in a disappointing 19th place, a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering this was his final NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington.

As the chequered flag fell, Reddick claimed the runner-up spot, failing to challenge Kyle Larson for the victory. For Kevin Harvick, it was a bitter farewell to Darlington, while Denny Hamlin’s candid insights shed light on the complexities and risks involved in pursuing victory on the racetrack.

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