Tyler Reddick: From NASCAR Star to Forza Motorsport Champion
Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Cup Series driver for 23XI Racing, has emerged as the top competitor in Mobil 1's Legend vs Leaderboard series on Forza Motorsport, beating fellow NASCAR drivers John Hunter Nemechek, Bubba Wallace, and Christopher Bell in a special lap time contest.
Race car driver in cockpit
Despite being more comfortable with a controller, Reddick adapted quickly to the racing rig setup, setting a benchmark time of 54.305s at the fictional Maple Valley Raceway in wet conditions. The challenge features the 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex, a car Reddick has special affinity for due to its prominence in the Initial D anime series.
Gamers worldwide can attempt to beat Reddick's time in the Rivals mode from November 28 through December 11, following previous challenges featuring Tony Stewart, Jamie Chadwick, and Jenson Button.
Reddick, an avid gamer himself, emphasizes how Forza serves multiple purposes for NASCAR drivers:
- Maintains competitive drive during off-season
- Helps practice racing lines and consistency
- Provides unique opportunities to race NASCAR vehicles against different car classes
- Offers experience on tracks not featured in the NASCAR schedule
The eight-time Cup Series winner particularly values Forza's ghost car feature, which allows players to visualize the optimal racing line while attempting to beat his time. For aspiring challengers, Reddick suggests studying the ghost car's positioning and timing to find those crucial extra tenths of a second.
The challenge coincides with NASCAR's recent return to the Forza franchise, which Reddick considers significant for the sport's gaming presence, allowing fans to experience NASCAR vehicles in diverse racing scenarios beyond traditional oval tracks.