A lengthy green-flag run came to an abrupt end during Stage 2 of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway after Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman made contact while attempting to enter pit road.
The incident unfolded as teams were cycling through green-flag pit stops. Bowman, driving the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, was moving down the track toward pit entry when he clipped the right-front of Reddick’s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota.
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The contact immediately brought out the caution, interrupting the ongoing pit cycle and forcing teams to quickly adjust their strategy.
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, who initially reported that Reddick and Bowman had crashed entering pit road, later clarified the sequence of events.
“Oh it was Bowman coming down the track and he hit Reddick.”
Multiple reporters at the track described the incident similarly, noting that Bowman was crossing the racing surface to make pit road while Reddick was alongside him.
Tyler Reddick’s team reports no major damage
Although the collision sparked immediate concern for the race leader, Reddick’s team quickly indicated they did not believe the No. 45 Toyota had sustained significant damage.
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PRN Radio’s Andrew Kurland reported there was “not much concern” inside the team’s pit box despite the contact.
Team radio, however, suggested the impact was enough to affect the steering.
Crew members were heard saying:
“Hit the right front, Billy.”
Moments later, another update followed:
“Steering wheel is one o’clock, a full hour off.”
Even so, the team continued to report they did not see any major damage from the contact.
Caution shakes up Stage 2 strategy
Because the incident occurred in the middle of a green-flag pit cycle, the caution dramatically altered strategy throughout the field.
Several teams had already committed to pit road while others were still on track when the yellow flag flew, creating an uneven cycle that could reshape the running order for the remainder of Stage 2.
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Daniel Suarez also narrowly avoided becoming part of the incident after making an aggressive move back onto the racing surface instead of continuing onto pit road as the accident unfolded ahead of him.
With no significant damage initially reported for Reddick’s car, the attention quickly shifted from repairs to how the unexpected caution would impact the race’s strategic battle heading into the final stage.
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