Tyler Reddick wins Cup race at Road America

Race after race, Tyler Reddick rolled through this NASCAR Cup Series season with his first victory in sight, only to see his shot at victory lane dissolve.

On Sunday at Road America, he didn’t let the opportunity pass.

Instead, he passed. And the victim was Chase Elliott, who dominated Sunday’s race but was outdueled by Reddick in the afternoon’s key moment. The two dueled for the lead for several laps before Reddick muscled around Elliott with 17 laps to go. He stayed out front the rest of the way, steadily building a big lead over Elliott.

The win was Reddick’s first in the series after 10 top-five finishes. He thus put his name on the post-season playoff list.

Reddick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, became the fifth driver to win for the first time this season.

Road America is famous for making passing difficult, and Elliott made it virtually impossible before Reddick’s final-stage surge. Elliott built six-second leads during the first two stages before Reddick rose to the occasion in the third stage.

Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace made contact in the hazardous Turn 5 during the second stage, sending both cars out of the racing groove. Neither received serious damage.

Elliott built a four-second lead in the second stage before pitting, leaving the stage win to Ryan Blaney.

Elliott also dominated the first stage, but another Chase — Briscoe — won the stage after Elliott’s team turned to strategy and pitted two laps before the end of the race’s opening 15 laps.

Stage 1 winner: Chase Briscoe

Stage 2 winner: Ryan Blaney

Who had a good race: Tyler Reddick finally burst into victory lane after showing much promise in his third full Cup season. The 26-year-old Californian had scored 10 top fives without a win. …