​Tyler Reddick captured the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in his No. 45 Toyota Camry NASCAR Cup Car. We dive into the specifics to determine whether the missing right front fender that flew off the car could have conferred an aerodynamic edge in the race’s closing stages. TTAC creator Bozidar “Bozi” Tatarević is a Bosnian-American racing mechanic, writer, and technical consultant, born in Sarajevo in 1986. After moving to the United States in 1995, he learned English in elementary school and transformed his lifelong fascination with cars—encouraged by his father Slav—into a professional career. When he was laid off from a tech job in 2008, Bozi turned to wrenching full-time, eventually starting a family-backed shop and car export business. His technical posts on message boards eventually led to opportunities in writing for TTAC, Motorsport.com, Road & Track, and Racecar Engineering. In 2018, he made his pro-mechanic debut at Watkins Glen and now serves as a tire carrier and mechanic for Vasser Sullivan Racing in IMSA, where he has accumulated 10 wins and a 2023 GTD Pro title. Bozi also operates Podium Prime, his consulting agency that serves race teams, media productions, and other clients. Editor’s note: this podcast originally aired several months ago, so it has been re-released to give new listeners a chance to watch. The TTAC Creators Series showcases stories and voices from creators across the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, and modified builds. Below is an AI-generated summary of the video transcript, which has been edited by a staffer. Become a TTAC insider to get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and all the truth about cars delivered first by subscribing to our newsletter. Summary: Did Tyler Reddick’s Missing Right Front Fender Help Him Win? The video examines whether the missing right front fender on Tyler Reddick’s car after a late-race crash at Echo Park Speedway provided an aerodynamic advantage that contributed to his Autotrader 400 victory. Crash and Damage: Late in the race, Reddick collided with Denny Hamlin, severely damaging the front-right corner of his car. The right front fender was completely torn away, but the team repaired the splitter and front bumper before the restart. This unusual damage prompted speculation that the missing bodywork might have yielded an aerodynamic edge. Aerodynamic Effects: The analysis concludes that the missing fender produced both positive and negative aerodynamic effects. Potential benefits include the opening in the wheel well acting similarly to fender louvers used on GT3 race cars, allowing high-pressure air to escape. This could have increased front downforce, giving the front tires more grip. More front grip would make the car looser, a setup that can be challenging to drive but might have been compatible with Reddick’s dirt-track driving background. Potential drawbacks include added aerodynamic turbulence and instability from exposed components, which could offset any gains. The discussion ties the outcome to the broader context of how minor body changes can influence handling, particularly in tight, late-race situations where grip and balance are crucial.