Denny Hamlin reacts to gutsy call by 45 team that led to Tyler Reddick win at Homestead

Denny Hamlin gave some credit to the No. 45 team and Tyler Reddick for their gusty pit strategy that led to a trip to Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway over the weekend.

Everyone will remember the pass Reddick made to get by Ryan Blaney for the win, but the reason he was even in that position was an against-type strategy and a little bit of luck. Hamlin evaluated the call for Reddick to stay out longer than the rest of the field and hope to get a caution, which they eventually did, on the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast.

“I thought the call was an interesting call,” Hamlin stated. “It certainly worked out well. Asking about the mentality of the call, it seemed like they felt as though they played the same strategy I did, which is let’s go a little bit long here and then try to make a charge at the end, they thought the best that they were going to finish was about fourth. So, at that point, they said, ‘Let’s just run this thing out until we go a lap down.’ Basically, when we pit, would that put us a lap down or not? And they did, and the caution fell right as they were exiting pit road, after a lap. 

“… I thought that they were just going to go long like we were, and then we were both going to try to make a charge through the field. But they played the strategy that they thought was the best strategy to win the race, and they were right.”

While Hamlin the driver wasn’t happy he came in third in Florida, Hamlin the owner was elated with Reddick advancing to the Championship 4. It’ll be the first trip to Phoenix to race for a title for the team led by Hamlin and Michael Jordan, and the team partied all night after clinching their spot in the finale.

Regardless, it has to be a bitter pill to swallow for the No. 11 wheelman. He still hasn’t won a title, and one of his final chances to get the job done may have just evaporated. He’ll likely need a win at Martinsville if he’s going to advance to the Championship 4.

Alas, this past weekend’s race at Homestead will be remembered because of Tyler Reddick’s career-defining move, and it happened in Denny Hamlin’s car. That has to mean something to the veteran, but he’s giving the team all the credit.