NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick recently expressed his concerns about the aggressive driving behavior in the sport following a chaotic Round of 16 race at Watkins Glen. On SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he voiced his frustrations regarding the diminishing respect among drivers, which he believes has led to a departure from the traditional “driver code.” Reddick stated:
“There is no more driver code. It’s gone.”
After watching postrace comments from Martin Truex Jr., Reddick felt a connection to his frustrations, particularly regarding how some drivers use the car in front of them as a brake during restarts, describing it as disheartening.
Reddick admitted to making mistakes himself but emphasized that he disapproves of the current trend of reckless driving. He shared, “Call me a hypocrite if you want, I’ve made my mistakes. I just don’t like driving into the corner and using someone in front as a brake.
While he noted that pushing someone wide is acceptable, pushing them off the track is not how he wants to compete. He reflected on how in past years, he hasn’t faced much of that chaos on road courses—until now.
“Yesterday was one of those rare days where I was right in the thick of it. Seeing that kind of driving is tough. I hope things change,” he remarked, highlighting how the current car design allows for more aggressive tactics without the former consequences.
The Watkins Glen race featured several notable incidents, leading to upsets among drivers. Truex Jr., who has over 20 years of racing experience, echoed Reddick’s frustrations, stating:
“It’s just crazy that all these races always come down to this. I really question how guys can consider themselves the best when they just drive through everyone on restarts. It’s frustrating, but that’s how it is these days.”