“They want to see some controlled chaos”: Tyler Reddick and Michael McDowell in favor of NASCAR removing stage breaks at road courses

Tyler Reddick echoed Michael McDowell's sentiment about doing away with stage breaks on road courses. With the Chicago street race having experienced multiple cautions due to various incidents, the additional stage breaks only led to more restarts. Tyler Reddick and Michael McDowell suggest that NASCAR should eliminate these breaks from road courses to streamline the action.

Last year, to introduce more strategic variety during races, NASCAR eliminated stage breaks for the entire Cup series schedule. Although stage points were still awarded at predetermined laps, racing continued under green conditions. But then, in 2024, NASCAR reinstated stage breaks for road courses, a move that has drawn criticism from drivers like McDowell and Tyler Reddick, who prefer a more uninterrupted racing experience.

During the post-race interviews, when a reporter questioned Michael McDowell about the re-implementation of stage breaks and their effects, he advocated for their removal at road courses, suggesting it enhances the race, especially under unpredictable weather conditions. McDowell emphasized:

"I say at all the road courses remove the stage breaks again. That was more fun. Let's do that. Then it prevents this, just in case there is weather. That's how we're going to pitch it. I think that's the best way to do it. [...] I just don't think we need the breaks here because they sort of happen organically at the road courses...I just don't think it's super organic as far as how it all plays out. I think the fastest car should win, and stage breaks take that away," McDowell said [at 0:30].

Echoing the sentiment, Tyler Reddick added his perspective, aligning with McDowell's view on the matter:

"Well, coming into it, I'm kind of with Michael, the stage breaks do take away from the strategy a bit. But obviously, they want to see restarts, and they want to see some chaos, some controlled chaos, I guess," Reddick added [at 1:24].

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Tyler Reddick shares his disappointment with his finish

Since the Coca-Cola 600 at the end of May, Tyler Reddick has consistently finished strong, securing six top-eight finishes in the last seven races, with his lowest placement being P22 at the first Iowa Speedway Cup Series race.

And again at Chicago, despite his strong performance streak, a small error stripped him of a potential victory, leaving him frustrated. Reflecting on the race, Tyler Reddick shared in his post-race interview (via NASCARonTSN on X):

"We were catching Alex by a large margin there and I don't know. That puzzles me. I clearly just screwed up. [...] I knew that the earlier I get to him the more options gonna have. Its gonna get a little bit more slick offline beyond turn 8. Just didn't even give ourselves a shot to race and unfortunately with that. So, hate it."

With his performance in Chicago, where he earned 37 points, Reddick has moved up to P3 in the regular season standings, now only 23 points behind the leader, Kyle Larson.