Tyler Reddick Wins at Phoenix and Turns The Chase Upside Down on Kyle Larson

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Tyler Reddick just reminded everyone why you never bury a guy with this many wins.

On Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, Reddick won the Freeway Insurance 500 for his sixth victory of the season — the most of any driver in the Cup Series.

It had been a long time coming. He went 24 races between victories after winning at Kansas back in April, and for a while it felt like the No. 45 team had lost the magic that made them so dangerous early in the year. On Sunday they found it again.

The bigger story might be what the win did to the points.

Reddick entered the day 114 points behind Kyle Larson. He left Phoenix only 56 back. That is a massive swing in one afternoon, and it was made possible by Larson’s rough day. The points leader had early struggles, then blew a tire, crashed, and finished 34th. Just like that, the cushion that made Larson look almost untouchable got cut in half.

Phoenix was not supposed to be the race that blew The Chase wide open.

It turned into exactly that.

With three races left — including the ultimate wild card at Talladega next week — seven drivers are now within less than a full race of the lead. Larson still sits on top, but Christopher Bell is only five points behind. Chase Briscoe is 24 back. Denny Hamlin is 31 back. Ryan Blaney sits 40 behind, Joey Logano is 44 back, and Reddick is now 56 out. That is a completely different looking championship picture than the one we had 24 hours ago.

For weeks it felt like Larson was in control. The No. 5 team was stacking strong finishes and making everyone else chase. One bad day at Phoenix changed the math for almost everybody.

The rest of the contenders got exactly what they needed: an opportunity.

Bell’s fourth-place finish and Briscoe’s eighth weren’t flashy, but they did the job. They stayed clean, banked solid points, and moved closer while Larson was in the garage. Blaney finished second and Logano took sixth while sweeping both stages. Those are the kinds of days that keep a team believing. Penske left Phoenix in much better shape than they arrived.

Hamlin’s 28th-place finish stings as a missed chance, especially with so many other contenders capitalizing. Still, it could have been worse, and he remains close enough that one strong run can change everything again.

The takeaway is simple.

If you thought this championship was already decided, you were wrong. The top seven are all close enough that the next three races can rearrange the order in a hurry. Talladega has a way of creating chaos on its own. Martinsville and Homestead will demand execution.

Nobody is safe, and nobody is out.

Reddick’s win was the loudest result of the day, but the real shift was the points.

Larson’s lead is still real, yet it no longer feels comfortable. The drivers behind him finally have room to breathe and a reason to believe.

The final three races are going to be a fight.

If you want this championship, you’re going to have to take it. Nobody is handing it over anymore.