Reddick Makes NASCAR History
Tyler Reddick became the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win the opening three races of the season, clinching his third straight victory at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday. This unprecedented feat has already ignited debate about whether Reddick is poised for a championship run and stands as a testament to his consistency and skill behind the wheel.
Reddick's victory at the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix was his second at the Circuit of the Americas, making it the first track where he has multiple career victories. He dominated the weekend, starting from the pole and leading a race-high 58 of the 95 laps on the road course. To secure the historic third consecutive win, Reddick had to fend off Shane van Gisbergen, a dominant force on road courses who had won five of the six such races in 2025. Van Gisbergen was challenging for the lead in the final stage but ultimately couldn't catch Reddick, who pulled away in the closing laps. This unprecedented start to the 2026 season comes after a challenging 2025 for Reddick, in which he went winless. The 30-year-old driver had previously made it to the Championship 4 in 2024. His first victory of the 2026 season at the Daytona 500 broke a 38-race winless streak. Reddick drives the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and current driver Denny Hamlin. Jordan was present at the Circuit of the Americas to celebrate the historic "three-peat" with the team. The next challenge for Reddick will be at Phoenix Raceway. A victory there would make him only the ninth driver in NASCAR's modern era (since 1972) to win four consecutive races. Of the eight drivers who have accomplished this feat, five went on to win the championship that same year.
