Tyler Reddick Suffers Power Steering Failure

Tyler Reddick's No. 45 Toyota suffered a power steering failure on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.

This issue occurred less than halfway through the Toyota/Save Mart 350, forcing Reddick to pit early in Stage 2.

The power steering problem sent Reddick's car to pit road, costing him multiple laps and putting his afternoon on the defensive.

The 23XI Racing team spent an extended period diagnosing the issue, and crew chief Billy Scott instructed Reddick to run the best lap times he could.

The timing could hardly have been worse for Reddick, who arrived at Sonoma atop the regular-season standings.

Every lap lost opened the door for rivals to erase his advantage, with Denny Hamlin standing to gain in the standings.

Reddick remained on track during Stage 2, but his afternoon had shifted from contending near the front to salvaging championship points.

The regular-season championship carries added importance, with the driver who finishes atop the standings earning 15 playoff points.

Barring an unusual series of cautions or heavy attrition, recovering from a six-lap deficit at Sonoma is an extremely difficult task.

Reddick's focus shifted to staying on track and losing as few laps as possible, with the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs remaining months away.

The NASCAR Cup Series regular-season standings will continue to shift as the season progresses, with Reddick looking to regain his footing after the setback at Sonoma.