Tyler Reif, a 19-year-old driver with Niece Motorsports, faced a devastating setback in San Diego as he narrowly missed securing his first Truck Series victory. Despite a strong performance throughout the race, Reif’s chances evaporated during a critical overtime restart when Kaden Honeycutt and Chandler Smith collided.
Although Reif had only started seven races previously with a best finish of ninth, he found himself in a fierce battle for the lead against Daniel Hemric. The tense final laps saw Reif engage in a contact-filled struggle, ultimately necessitating the waving of the white flag with smoke emanating from his No. 42 Chevrolet. Had he completed just one more lap, he would have joined an exclusive group of drivers to deliver a Truck Series win for Niece Motorsports, alongside Cup Series stars Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar.
Unfortunately, Reif collided with Layne Riggs while navigating the final chicane, violating NASCAR regulations that require a full stop upon missing the chicane. This moment sealed the loss, as Riggs overtook him immediately. Reif finished 19th, with his family’s audible disappointment echoing during the broadcast.
“I’m so sorry,” Reif later expressed, highlighting his disappointment in his performance.
Reflecting on the race’s conclusion, Reif admitted to Motorsport.com’s Matt Weaver: “If I could redo that chicane 100 times over, I’d redo it 101 times. I mean, I did it perfectly 49 times, and I missed it once—the only lap that mattered, really. So, I don’t know, not a lot of words for it, but I’m just extremely disappointed in myself, and it’s definitely not going to happen again.” He added, “I think the pressure just got to me, right?”
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Post-race, Hocevar provided Reif with valuable perspective, emphasizing that his near-victory alone was significant. “You don’t have to win these races,” Hocevar told Motorsport.com. “The owners are going to see the subject, not the results. The fans and social media will see the results, but the people who hire drivers—they see the subject.” He praised Reif’s dedication, noting his steady progress from Quarter-Midgets to his current level.
Despite the heartbreak, Reif remained focused on his journey. “I feel like I always knew I could do it,” he said. “After Nashville and the rough couple of races I’ve had, I was low on self-confidence. I knew I could come out here and run up front, and I did exactly that. So, I think that was really good for my mental side of things.”
