Tyler Reddick joined the Bobby Bones Show not long after a busy stretch that included racing, travel, and family life. Despite the packed schedule, he said he was feeling good physically after finally getting several solid hours of sleep. While he felt energized, he noted that his wife was still exhausted as they adjusted following a major life event.
Reddick shared that he and his wife recently welcomed their second child, Rookie, who was born around 2:20 a.m. on the same day Reddick competed in the Coca-Cola 600. The timing made the experience especially challenging, as the Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the NASCAR schedule. He explained that both times his children were born, he and his wife were already running on very little rest before even arriving at the hospital. The night Rookie was born, he explained that they knew labor was close and planned to get a short window of sleep. Just as their oldest child, Beau, fell asleep and Reddick began drifting off himself, his wife came upstairs and told him her water had broken. From there, the night became a long and exhausting process for both of them.
Reddick said he managed to get about an hour of sleep before heading straight to the racetrack to compete. He explained that adrenaline carried him through the race and that he never seriously questioned whether he should sit it out. Despite trying to conserve energy early in the race, he found himself moving toward the front of the field quickly and staying competitive throughout the event. He said the experience added to the story of Rookie’s birth and joked that his youngest still struggles with sleep, making the memory even more fitting. Bobby related to the moments of extreme fatigue, including times when he has driven to work and realized he didn’t remember the drive at all, something he compared to the mental autopilot that can happen during long routines.
The conversation later turned personal when Reddick discussed his grandfather, Benny Brown, who played a significant role in country music through his work with Broken Bow Records. Reddick talked about growing up around the music industry and witnessing firsthand how his grandfather helped develop artists by pairing them with strong songwriters and trusting his instincts for hits. He recalled early memories of meeting artists like Jason Aldean and seeing how their careers evolved over time. Reddick compared his move into NASCAR with the way artists relocate to Nashville, explaining that if someone wants to be a stock car driver, they must live in the Charlotte area. He moved to North Carolina with very little, leaning on friendships built earlier in his racing career. One of those relationships, with helmet painter Greg Stump, continues to this day. He explained how the culture of racing has changed over the years, noting that drivers today often arrive with sponsorships already in place, unlike earlier eras when racers worked side jobs to support themselves. Early in his career, Reddick said he helped however he could in the shop, working on trucks and assisting pit crews until team management eventually stepped in to protect him from injury.
When asked about racing movies, Reddick said he loved the energy of Days of Thunder and admitted to watching Talladega Nights repeatedly during his teenage years, even though it’s far from realistic. He recalled moving to Charlotte and trying to track down filming locations from the movies, noting that several drivers enjoyed the attention those films brought to the sport. Reddick shared that he doesn’t keep good-luck items in his race car, explaining that anything unnecessary would be removed for weight reasons. However, he spoke emotionally about memorabilia from his Daytona 500 win, including his championship ring and a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch engraved with “Daytona 500 Winner,” which he said was especially meaningful because he had always promised himself he would only own that watch if he earned it.
Reflecting on the closing laps of the Daytona 500, Reddick said he understood how rare the opportunity was and allowed himself a brief moment to feel the weight of the situation under caution. He then set those emotions aside and focused solely on racing. The chaotic finish played to his strengths, as unexpected situations often do in the races he wins. The interview ended with a lighthearted question about asking Michael Jordan for autographs. Reddick said Jordan would likely laugh but added that it would be meaningful to exchange signed memorabilia tied directly to the race they won together.