Tyler Reddick has kicked off the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with remarkable strength, securing victories at the Daytona 500 and the Autotrader 400 in Atlanta within the first two races. His impressive performance has sparked discussions over who truly deserves the title of driver of the week after such dominant displays.
On the inaugural episode of FOX Sports’ SPEED With Harvick and Buxton, two prominent voices in racing—former NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick and seasoned Formula 1 commentator Will Buxton—offered contrasting views on the top driver following the second weekend of competition. Their differing opinions shed light on varied criteria for success early in the season.
Kevin Harvick Endorses Tyler Reddick’s Momentum
Kevin Harvick expressed strong support for Tyler Reddick, emphasizing the momentum Reddick has built through his back-to-back wins. Harvick highlighted Reddick’s rare accomplishment, noting his place among a select group of drivers who have claimed victory in the first two events of the Cup season.
I don’t know how you go against the guy who just won the Daytona 500, won the next week to back that up and just has a ton of momentum right now,
Harvick said.
Can he keep it? We’ll find out. But right now, he’s got the momentum that he needs to be a championship contender and the points leader in NASCAR.
This strong start contrasts sharply with Reddick’s previous year, where he failed to win any races and finished ninth in the standings, his worst finish in several seasons. Prior to the season, Harvick had considered Reddick and his team, 23XI Racing, as being under significant pressure. With these wins, however, Harvick believes both driver and team have regained their footing.
Will Buxton Highlights Shane van Gisbergen’s Resilience
In contrast, Will Buxton turned his attention to Shane van Gisbergen, driver of the No. 97 Chevrolet, who placed sixth at the Autotrader 400 despite several setbacks during the race. Van Gisbergen recovered from running off the track twice and climbing from 28th to the top 10, even leading a lap, impressing Buxton with his performance on oval tracks.
You know I’m a massive SVG fan. We were talking over the winter about it, but the second this guy figures out ovals to add to his street racing prowess, he’s going to be the real deal,
Buxton remarked.
He’s going to be a real danger. What we saw at Daytona, until he got involved in the wreck, and what we saw at Atlanta was a guy who has got tracks of that nature figured out.
For me, that’s an unbelievable drive for a driver who, last year that people were saying, ‘He’s good, but he doesn’t really get ovals.’
Despite winning five races last year and earning Rookie of the Year honors, van Gisbergen struggled with consistency, often finishing outside the top 20 and ending the season 12th in overall points. Buxton’s praise indicates that van Gisbergen’s skill on ovals is rapidly improving, a sign that he could be a formidable competitor this season.
Harvick also acknowledged van Gisbergen’s growth, pointing to his intelligence and maturity as key factors in his development:
Extremely high racing IQ and very good at analyzing himself and the car,
said Harvick.
The maturity to go with it, I think that’s the difference that a lot of people don’t understand, is the fact that he’s mature, very willing to critique himself and learn.
Fan Vote Leans Towards Reddick’s Stellar Weekend
Reflecting public opinion, Tyler Reddick secured 70 percent of the fan vote for driver of the week, demonstrating widespread recognition of his early season success. Carson Hocevar received the most write-in votes after a strong showing at the Autotrader 400, where he led at the start of overtime before Reddick overtook him to win the race.
This early fan endorsement adds to the conversation surrounding Reddick’s status as a top contender in 2026, bolstering his position as the points leader and one of NASCAR’s most exciting drivers to watch.
