We’ve all seen the infamous onboard of Dick Trickle smoking a cigarette during yellow flags, but did you know that the age old relationship between NASCAR and nicotine is still ablaze? As all eyes were on Michael Jordan and the 23XI Racing crew after Tyler Reddick brought home a stellar win at Talladega, the ‘Money Lap’ podcast hosts caught a rather unexpected moment on the #45 Camry XSE’s onboard.

Although there was no smoke coming out of Reddick’s cabin like Trickle’s days, Parker Kligerman and Landon Cassill pointed out the clever way in which NASCAR drivers still use nicotine to help reel in better ‘focus’.

What is the modern NASCAR drivers’ well-kept secret

On the latest episode of the Money Lap podcast, the hosts were going over Tyler Reddick’s win at Talladega, talking about how the #45 had managed to thread the needle and remain out in front as the field around him crumbled. But this is when Kligerman brought up the mention of Zyn, the popular nicotine pouch, as the key to Reddick’s laser focus. In a rather hysterical revelation, Landon Cassil informed fans of what went down at Talladega.

Cassil shared, “If anybody saw the show and saw some in-car footage, you could see that Tyler (Reddick) was packing a Zyn in his side pocket, and all of this conversation is to say that Tyler was clearly focused, and locked in with the bigger picture. He was driving the car from the blimp, he could see everything.” Unlike the older days when drivers could light one up during yellow flag situations, Reddick’s approach was in tune with the current times. Speaking of which, Parker Kligerman added fuel to the fire with another shocking revelation.

The Money Lap co-host stated; “So this is a trend happening. For all our listeners out there, there are numerous NASCAR drivers, I’m not gonna name names, I don’t want them out there. But there are numerous drivers that are racing with Zyns in their mouth. And you know, the thought process is, I do know, there is a scientific backing to the fact that nicotine can be a focus helper and sort of like stimulant, sort of just like caffeine, it’s no different, and it can help you focus and that sort of thing.”

According to the two Xfinity veterans, it has reportedly become common practice for drivers to resort to nicotine as a focus enhancement tool. With them needing to maintain tunnel vision for over three hours of cut-throat racing, it’s safe to say that Reddick’s Zyns may have helped him calm his nerves and redirect that focus. That being said, Parker Kligerman also revealed his own experience with nicotine as a NASCAR driver.

Do nicotine pouches really help gain better focus? Parker Kligerman reveals his findings

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Unlike Tyler Reddick, Parker Kligerman’s fate wasn’t as delightful last weekend. The #48 Chevy driver crashed out after a tussle with Austin Hill and ended his weekend with a DNF. That being said, Reddick’s nicotine tactics didn’t seem to have an effect on Kligerman in the simulator.

Reflecting on his own experience, the Xfinity driver stated; “It’s become so prevalent that last year, I tried it in the simulator…(…)..Well, I never thought about it in the race car, but seeing all this happen and seeing all these drivers utilising it, I thought i’ll try it in the simulator. I didn’t think I felt anything, I was like, ‘I don’t know! My throat’s a little dry and I feel like when I have a Zyn, sometimes it can keep you up’.”

Although it seemed like the nicotine pouches had little to no effect on Kligerman in the simulator, the Money Lap podcast co-host felt it did wonders during the drive back home from the racetrack.

He concluded by sharing, “But I will say, long drives, like if I’m on a long drive, and I’m getting a little tired and weary, I’ll have a Zyn and boom, I’m back. Bam, I feel like I can drive the rest of the way. Like after Bristol last year, I did that exact thing. I literally was tired. I was like, ‘I’m not gonna do another energy drink’. And I stopped, got Zyns, put one of those in, and bam, drove all the way home, no problem, felt super awake.”

After taking a look at how nicotine pouches seem to restore energy for NASCAR drivers, do you think it’s a good practice for NASCAR and drivers to showcase their nicotine affiliations?