Tyler Reddick Races with Heart on the Line
The driver Tyler Reddick faced Sunday’s race with championship hopes on the line, following the revelation that his newborn son was diagnosed with a chest tumor affecting his heart. Rookie, the second child of Tyler and Alexa Reddick, was born in May. Alexa revealed last week that the little one is dealing with serious health complications. The couple shared an update before the race at The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Tyler was starting from the pole and needed the victory to remain in contention for the Cup Series title. Shane van Gisbergen won the race, eliminating Reddick from the playoffs. Reddick finished in tenth position. Alexa Reddick posted on social media an update on Rookie’s condition after Tyler’s pole, explaining that he has a “tumor that is ‘choking’ the renal vein and artery. Telling the heart ‘Hey, I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder'”. According to their account, this has caused an enlargement of the heart, and the 4-month-old baby will need a kidney removed because doctors have determined that it no longer functions.He also added that his son was happy spending time making bubbles, playing, and “interacting with every nurse and doctor who enters his room.” Tyler Reddick had kept the situation of his son’s health private until his wife made the news public before last week’s race at Kansas Speedway, where she revealed that Rookie was at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and showing signs of heart failure. Reddick addressed Rookie’s health in Charlotte.“She will undergo open surgery to remove her right kidney. We’re just not sure when,” she wrote. “Waiting is okay at this point to give her heart a break while she’s on blood pressure medication. They’re hoping her heart will fully recover because it was just an innocent bystander. We have answers, but a journey ahead to bring our little Cookie home.”
Alexa Reddick
Reddick, who reached the final of last year’s championship, entered Sunday’s race below the cut line for the drivers. The group was reduced from 12 to eight after the race. The last four: Reddick, his 23XI Racing teammate, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, and Austin Cindric, were eliminated. “For me, this weekend, where we’re at points, is what it is,” Reddick said. “I’m going to go out and give my best effort while I’m here, certainly. For me, this week, the elimination, everything that’s going on in the racing world is taking a backseat, as it should.” Denny Hamlin, co-owner of Reddick’s car, said that 23XI Racing has provided support and involvement so that Rookie receives the best attention.“Healthier probably isn’t the right word, but I’ve never seen him happier. His color looks good. He’s gained weight. A lot of things are going well,” Reddick said. “All that being said, some of the toughest moments are definitely ahead. We’re definitely not out of the woods. There are some things we have to get through first.
Tyler Reddick
Reddick, meanwhile, was grateful for the support that he and his family have received and reflected on the emotional impact this has had on his family. “Countless people have helped,” Reddick said. “Countless people have reached out, provided support, whatever. It’s been really eye-opening. I agree with my wife, this is the hardest thing I’ve had to go through. Certainly, being out [last week] wasn’t ideal. That was a decision that the two of us made when I was in Kansas. It was going in the right direction. Yes, as I said, there are big things ahead that we have to solve, but over the past weekend, it was stable and going in the right direction. It was difficult to stay and run [in Kansas], but we were on the same page about it. I just wanted to get off that plane so badly on Sunday night and go back to the hospital.”“We’ve tried to do everything we can as a company to leverage every resource possible, to get second and third opinions, all the things, put him in touch with specialists,” Hamlin said. “We feel not relief, but it’s a small relief that they now understand a little bit what the path forward is, instead of not knowing.
Denny Hamlin
