Tyler Reddick didn’t try to shift the blame after his race ended almost as soon as it began Sunday at Iowa Speedway.
Instead, the 23XI Racing driver took full responsibility for the Lap 4 crash that eliminated both his No. 45 Toyota and Erik Jones’ No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota, calling the mistake “unacceptable” after climbing from his damaged car.
The early exit marked another frustrating setback in what has become a difficult stretch for one of NASCAR’s fastest drivers. Reddick entered the weekend trying to recover ground in the regular-season standings, only to see his afternoon end before the first stage was complete.
Tyler Reddick Took Full Responsibility for Iowa Crash
Reddick was battling Jones for position entering Turn 1 when his No. 45 Toyota suddenly broke loose. The car snapped sideways, slid up the track and slammed into Jones, sending both drivers hard into the outside wall.
Both cars suffered race-ending damage.
Speaking to reporters after being released from the infield care center, Reddick didn’t hesitate to own the mistake.
“I just lost the car, honestly,” Reddick said. “It just snapped on me. If I’m by myself, I probably can save it. Just unfortunate that we ran out of room, got into him [Jones] and we both wrecked. It’s not ideal. Unacceptable, really. It’s one thing to wreck myself, but taking out a Toyota teammate is not what I’m supposed to do.”
The incident was especially costly because it also eliminated a fellow Toyota driver, something Reddick made clear weighed heavily on him after the crash.
Erik Jones Believes It Was Simply an Early-Race Mistake
Jones was understandably disappointed after seeing his afternoon come to an abrupt end, but he stopped short of placing blame on Reddick.
“I think Tyler just got loose and crashed,” Jones said. “The nothing more to say, I know he didn’t mean to do it. He took himself out too. But it is frustrating. It’s just really early. It was 10 to go, I get it, but it’s Lap 3 so it’s just frustrating.”
Jones acknowledged the crash dealt a major blow to his postseason outlook.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be a long shot from here. We’re gonna be deep after today. It would take a heck of a run in three races to point our way back. It’s a bummer. We needed four really good weeks, and it’s just not gonna happen.”
For Reddick, the disappointment extends beyond Sunday’s DNF.
The No. 45 team entered Iowa looking to build momentum heading toward the final races before the Chase, but instead leaves with another difficult result after a race that lasted only four laps. While Reddick immediately accepted responsibility for the incident, the early exit adds another frustrating chapter to an increasingly challenging stretch during the second half of the season.
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