Tyler Reddick made NASCAR history on Sunday by becoming the first driver to win the opening three races of a Cup Series season. After victories at the Daytona 500 and Atlanta, Reddick dominated once again at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), solidifying his remarkable start in 2026 and highlighting his rising momentum in the sport.
Support from NASCAR Veteran Kurt Busch and 23XI Racing
Kurt Busch, a 2004 Cup champion and former driver of the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, praised Reddick and the team for their historic achievement. Busch retired from racing after sustaining a concussion during qualifying at Pocono Raceway in 2022, creating a vacancy that Reddick filled when he joined 23XI Racing from Richard Childress Racing in 2023. The move proved fruitful as Reddick quickly established himself as a top competitor.
I couldn’t be more proud of you, Tyler, the team, 23XI — oh my God, Denny [Hamlin], you knew he was gonna be the guy. MJ [Michael Jordan], Billy Scott, the whole program — I’m so proud of you guys,
Busch said. That is history. Three wins.
Reddick’s Career Challenges and Resurgence
Despite a strong start, Reddick faced a difficult 2025 season marked by personal issues away from the track and went winless. Entering 2026 with a contract season looming, he needed to prove himself. His response has been dominant, compiling three straight victories and opening a commanding 70-point lead in the Cup standings ahead of the upcoming Phoenix Raceway event.
Outstanding Performance at Circuit of The Americas
Reddick delivered arguably his finest performance to date at COTA, starting from the pole position and leading a race-high 58 laps. He crossed the finish line more than three seconds ahead of Shane van Gisbergen, who aimed to tie Jeff Gordon’s record for most consecutive road course wins in the Cup Series. Reddick’s tactics and skill proved superior in a tense battle.
Yeah, just trying to remember everything that I knew was going to be important there at the end and just tried to minimize the mistakes,
Reddick said following the race on the FOX broadcast.
Shane is just, that’s what he’s so good at. He does not make mistakes.
I certainly made a couple and just doing everything I could to just manage the gap and just stay away from him, you know what I mean? If I let him get close enough it was going to be hard to hold him off.
Implications for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Season
Reddick’s unprecedented winning streak has significant implications for the championship race, as his early dominance places him in excellent position to contend for the title. With experienced figures like Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan, and Billy Scott backing him at 23XI Racing, Reddick’s trajectory suggests he could become a defining driver of this era in NASCAR.
As the series heads to Phoenix Raceway next Sunday, fans and competitors alike will watch closely to see if Reddick can maintain his streak and continue reshaping NASCAR history with his performance.
Congratulations to @TylerReddick and @23XIRacing #lfg pic.twitter.com/ZDhEcxR8WJ
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) March 1, 2026
