Just hours after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan, Reddick drove down to Eldora Spedway to watch the Dirt Late Model Dream as a race fan
On Saturday, Tyler Reddick drove to victory lane at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event.
3 hours away, Eldora Speedway was set for one of their biggest dirt races of the season. The 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion loaded up for Ohio.
He was on hand to witness the rain shower that wiped out the entirety of heat five. With five laps to go, the green dropped and so did the rain. When they got to the corner, they all crashed.
Related: Rain strikes Eldora Speedway during heat race (Video)
Tyler Reddick talks dirt racing
“I never seen something like that with my own eyes. It was pretty crazy,” Tyler Reddick told James Essex during the LIVE broadcast from Eldora Speedway.
Reddick was a previous leader in the main event of the Dirt Late Model Dream. He led the opening portion of the 2012 event at Eldora Speedway.
“I miss them a lot. That would have been a bad moment for me if I was out there on the race track going into turn one. Just the energy that the fans always bring to this race track and the excitement around the events at Eldora Speedway are just so much fun.”
“I was telling my girlfriend, real last minute, ‘Hey, we’re going to Eldora. Just so you know.’ Got the race over with and I drove down here. I had to come watch the race.”
He saw a good one. The feature event saw the $125,000 prize separated by less than a half car length at the finish line.
Tyler Reddick and Scott Bloomquist
Tyler Reddick previously drove a Bloomquist chassis in his dirt racing days. The race last weekend at Eldora Speedway marked the first trip back for Bloomquist after sitting out for three months due to injury.
“I was a lot of fun to work with Scott,” Tyler Reddick continued. “He’s a polarizing factor in this sport. People either love him or hate him. There’s really no in-between ever with him.”
“I really want to. Hopefully, with some more success on the NASCAR side, I can start to save up a little bit of money, come back and do some races like this one here at Eldora.
“I see Tommy Hicks down there. He’s having a tough moment right now,” Reddick referred to the crew after the heat race crash as they worked to put the car back together. “But, I was really excited to see him back at the race track because he’s spent a little bit of time away from it.”
Reddick is running full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019. Additionally, he had a part-time ride in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with Richard Childress Racing.
Reddick has three wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series so far. That makes the defending champ the current point leader.
His focus currently sits on climbing the NASCAR ranks, there’s only one step of the ladder left. The longer term goals include a return to dirt track racing.
“I always said that if I owned a late model team, I’d be the one driving it. I’d be too selfish to let anyone else get in the seat,” Reddick concluded.
More
Kyle Larson would like to race a dirt late model
Dirt Late Model Dream: Results
Michigan Xfinity Race: Results
Scott Bloomquist tells the fascinating story of the #0
Bloomquist comments on bullrings and big tracks
Scott Bloomquist involved in motor cycle accident
Links
Tyler Reddick | Scott Bloomquist | Dennis Erb Jr | Eldora Speedway | DIRTcar Racing | Michigan International Speedway | NASCAR
