From Struggle to Speed: Reddick Explains the Turnaround That Put the No. 45 on the Pole

A single, blistering lap around New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s 1.058-mile asphalt oval completely salvaged Tyler Reddick’s Saturday, launching the No. 45 machine to the pole position after a practice session he bluntly categorized as “not good for sure.” Severe balance issues, erratic tire behavior, and a glaring lack of overall speed initially left the 23XI Racing crew searching for answers.

That stark turnaround took shape thanks to an early, decisive call from crew chief Billy Scott, who instructed Reddick to bring the car down pit road by lap 15 if the handling hadn’t settled. Reddick didn’t hesitate, jumping on the radio with a clear mandate to get to work. By digging into teammate data, tracking tire-wear trends, and evaluating notes from previous short-track setups, the team recalibrated the chassis just in time for single-lap qualifying.

While capturing the top spot provided an undeniable morale boost, Reddick made it clear during his post-qualifying media availability that a fast single lap does not automatically translate to race day dominance. Securing the pole at Loudon carries immense strategic value, granting the No. 45 first choice of pit stalls on a pit road where stall 1 offers an average advantage of several entry and exit lengths. However, converting qualifying pace into long-run stability remains a formidable hurdle.

On the track, the layout features low, variable banking ranging from just 2 to 7 degrees in the turns and a flat 1 degree on the straightaways, making clean air vital for front-end downforce. Yet, as practice demonstrated, long green-flag runs heavily degrade tire grip, which can quickly erase single-lap speed if the mechanical balance falters.

The press room conversation shifted when Sarah Talker of YourNews Media and Total Apex Sports pressed Reddick on his entry speed into Turns 1 and 3, asking if he was able to properly lean on the flat corners. Reddick used the prompt to break down the technical gulf between clean-air qualifying and heavy race traffic. While single-lap runs afford a driver total command over their marks, managing dirty air and congested lines forces continuous adjustments. “This is a really difficult track to keep the car working,”

Reddick explained to reporters, noting that drivers will be forced to shift their entry points throughout Sunday’s race just to preserve mechanical balance. Asked about the growing threat of rain, Reddick brushed off potential weather anxieties by leaning on his previous wet-weather experience at Loudon and Bowman Gray.

Even so, he conceded that New Hampshire’s uniquely flat surface instantly magnifies any unexpected loss of grip when damp-track dampening compounds or Goodyear rain tires come into play. Saturday’s pole proved the raw speed is embedded within the No. 45 setup. Even so, overnight adjustments and tactical execution will dictate whether Reddick can convert a stellar qualifying performance into a milestone victory over 301 grueling laps at “The Magic Mile.”