Parker Kligerman reacts to "one of the coolest battles" between Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin at Miami
Xfinity Series driver Parker Kligerman took to social media to share his thoughts on the finish to Sunday's Cup Series race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The finish saw Tyler Reddick pass both Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney on the final lap to win and clinch a spot in the Championship 4.
Kligerman took to his personal X account following the thrilling finish. He wrote:
"That was one of the coolest battles I’ve ever watched in NASCAR. A couple of the best in the world all needing that win, throwing haymakers at an absolute beauty of a racetrack"
The three drivers in contention for Sunday's win were all essentially in must-win scenarios in order to advance to the Championship 4. Hamlin looked to have the race in hand after taking the lead on the final restart of the race until Blaney surged past him with two laps remaining. On the last lap, Reddick overtook Hamlin for second place, then moved outside of Blaney in the final turns to make the race-winning pass.
Kligerman said in a later post via X that he tried to watch both the Cup Series race and the Formula 1 race at the same time. Because the Cup race was so exciting, the driver of the #48 Big Machine Racing car couldn't pay attention to both simultaneously.
"I kept trying to watch the F1 race at same time, but that cup race was so damn good from start to finish. I could never turn away. Going to have to rewatch F1 later"
Reddick joins Joey Logano as the two drivers who automatically qualified for the Championship 4 race in two weeks at Phoenix. Christopher Bell and William Byron cling to the other two spots by virtue of points, with one more race remaining in the Round of 8 at the Martinsville Speedway next Sunday.
Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott are below the cut line and are at risk of being eliminated in next week's Round of 8 finale.
Michael Jordan said his team "needed" Tyler Reddick's Homestead victory
Retired NBA great and co-owner of Tyler Reddick's #45 23XI Racing car, Michael Jordan, said after Sunday's race that it was a much-needed victory for the organization.
"Little kid drove his ass off," Jordan told NBC Sports. "I'm proud of him. He just let go [on the final lap]. He just went for it, and I'm glad. We needed it."
Reddick's Championship 4 appearance will be the first of his career as well as 23XI Racing's first since bursting onto the Cup scene in 2021. He made it to the Round of 8 last year in his first season with 23XI Racing but failed to advance to the championship race.