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The 2024 GEICO 500 race at Talladega Superspeedway witnessed several wrecks and fumbles in different stages of the race but Tyler Reddick came through in the end to clinch pole position.
The 23XI Racing driver drove through a safe spot and saved himself from getting caught in a major wreck on the final lap of the 500-mile race. Through the scattered cars, #45 Toyota took the checkered flag by 0.208 seconds, marking his first win of the season.
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However, Reddick's win wasn't well received by many fans on social media. A few NASCAR fans on X (formerly Twitter) felt it was undeserved and that Brad Keselowski should have won the race. One fan wrote:
"Undeserving"
"Brad was robbed," posted another fan.
Heartbreaking finish yesterday(Sunday)" said a fan.
"Damn feel bad for Brad K sooo close," a disheartened fan tweeted.
Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, came down to block the runner-up driver #6 Brad Keselowski at the front. Ford seemed poised to snap its losing streak this season.
However, McDowell tried to block Brad on the outside lane and ended up spinning off from the #6 driver's bumper and causing mayhem for the Ford drivers on the 188th Lap of the GEICO 500.
One fan was hopeful of a victory for Keselowski this season:
"I'm so proud of Brad, he's having a much better year. #6 will be getting the (chequered flag) real soon," a fan wrote.
Tyler Reddick credits Toyota teammates after beating Brad Keselowski to the checkered flag
Tyler Reddick secured his sixth career win and his first win of the season at the GEICO 500. This was also his second win at Talladega since 2021 and Toyota's first win on a Superspeedway with the Next-Gen car.
Reddick credited fellow Toyota drivers Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr. for the win during the post-race interview (via NASCAR on FOX). The GEICO 500 winner said:
"Just got to give a lot of credit to Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr. It was just us Toyota’s left, and they pushed me with everything they had so a huge credit to Martin and Ty. Without those pushes we don’t win this race.”
Reddick was surrounded by Ford drivers on the final lap and received help from his fellow Toyota drivers to escape the last-minute mayhem and push for the win.
