Tyler Reddick Aims for NASCAR's Coveted Four-Race Win Streak at Phoenix

Tyler Reddick’s remarkable start to the NASCAR Cup Series season has placed him on the precipice of history, as he prepares to challenge for a rare four-race winning streak at Phoenix Raceway this weekend. Following his recent victories at Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Reddick has become only the second driver in the Next Gen era to secure three consecutive Cup Series wins. However, his current accomplishment sets him apart as the sole driver in NASCAR’s 78-year history to have won the first three races of a season, spanning two drafting tracks and a road course.

The pursuit of four consecutive victories in the NASCAR Cup Series is a testament to sustained dominance and a rare feat, with only eight drivers achieving it since the modern era began in 1972. This exclusive club comprises legends of the sport, all of whom have since been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and six of whom are Cup Series champions. The last driver to accomplish this remarkable feat was Jimmie Johnson in 2007, underscoring the difficulty of maintaining such a high level of performance over an extended period.

Reddick’s path to this juncture has been anything but straightforward. Each of his victories has been hard-fought, requiring late-race heroics and strategic brilliance. At Daytona, he navigated two last-lap crashes to secure the win with a single lap led. Atlanta saw him recover from a significant late-race incident, rallying to take the lead in double overtime despite missing an entire fender. His triumph at COTA involved a tense battle with road racing specialist Shane van Gisbergen in the closing laps. These victories, coupled with the highly competitive nature of the modern NASCAR field, make Reddick’s current three-race streak particularly impressive.

Should Reddick successfully extend his winning run to four at Phoenix, he would join an esteemed list of drivers who have achieved this milestone. Each of their journeys offers a unique insight into the challenges and circumstances surrounding such remarkable performances.

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Cale Yarborough – 1976

Cale Yarborough’s four consecutive wins in 1976 marked a season of unparalleled dominance. His streak began in September at Richmond, where he narrowly defeated Bobby Allison. The margin of victory only widened with each subsequent race. At Dover, he bested Richard Petty by over seven seconds, followed by a 14-second victory over Darrell Waltrip at Martinsville. He capped off this incredible run at North Wilkesboro, winning by a full lap over Benny Parsons, solidifying his status as a true legend.

Darrell Waltrip – 1981

Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson Motorsports, mirrored Yarborough’s achievement in 1981, also securing four consecutive wins. His streak commenced at Martinsville, with Harry Gant finishing a distant 7.8 seconds behind. Waltrip then achieved a commanding victory at North Wilkesboro, lapping his closest competitor, Bobby Allison. He continued his dominance at Charlotte, again finishing nearly a lap ahead of Allison. The streak concluded at Rockingham, where Waltrip made a late pass with just 11 laps remaining to secure his fourth consecutive win. This formidable run preceded his first of three NASCAR Cup Series championships.

Dale Earnhardt – 1987

Dale Earnhardt, "The Intimidator," demonstrated his prowess in 1987 with a four-race winning streak. His campaign began at Darlington, where he passed Bill Elliott as Elliott ran out of fuel on the final lap. Earnhardt followed this with a victory at North Wilkesboro, holding off Kyle Petty. He then edged out Richard Petty at Bristol by less than a second, concluding his streak with a win at Martinsville over rival Rusty Wallace. Earnhardt went on to claim the Cup Series title that year.

Harry Gant – 1991

Harry Gant, affectionately known as "Mr. September," achieved his four-race winning streak in the latter part of the 1991 season. Notably, Gant was not a Cup Series champion and was over 50 years old during his streak, making his accomplishment even more remarkable. He secured his first win at the Southern 500 at Darlington, defeating Ernie Irvan by over ten seconds. A hard-fought victory followed at Richmond, where he passed Davey Allison late in the race. Gant then dominated at Dover, winning by more than a lap. His final win in the streak came at Martinsville, where, after crashing late in the race and suffering significant damage, he charged back through the field to take the lead with 46 laps remaining and secure the victory. Gant would later be elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Bill Elliott – 1992

Bill Elliott’s impressive run began with a dominant victory at Rockingham. His streak faced a significant challenge at Richmond, where he secured a thrilling photo finish win over Alan Kulwicki. Elliott then delivered a commanding performance at Atlanta, winning by over 18 seconds. He completed the four-peat at Darlington, taking the lead late in the race and driving away to victory.

Mark Martin – 1993

Mark Martin’s four-race winning streak commenced at Watkins Glen, where he inherited the lead after a dramatic late-race incident involving Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He followed this with a solid victory at Michigan. At Bristol, Martin engaged in a tight battle with Rusty Wallace, ultimately making a pass for the lead with 12 laps remaining. His streak concluded with a win at Darlington, where he overtook Brett Bodine to secure his fourth consecutive victory.

Jeff Gordon – 1998

During the summer of 1998, Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, experienced a dominant period that included a four-race winning streak. His streak began at Pocono, where he defeated Mark Martin. Gordon then secured a victory in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, holding off challenges after a late caution. He continued his winning ways at Watkins Glen, passing Mike Skinner for the lead. The streak culminated at Michigan, where Gordon overtook Mark Martin in the closing laps to achieve his fourth consecutive win. Gordon’s 1998 season was highlighted by 13 victories.

Jimmie Johnson – 2007

The most recent driver to achieve four consecutive wins was Jimmie Johnson in 2007, a period that coincided with his unprecedented run of five consecutive Cup Series championships. His streak began at Martinsville with a relatively unchallenged victory. The following week at Atlanta, Johnson rallied from fifth place with ten laps remaining, benefiting from a strong pit stop and strategic positioning to take the win. His streak continued at Texas, where he passed Matt Kenseth with just two laps remaining. Johnson completed the four-peat at Phoenix, overtaking Martin Truex Jr. in the final laps and holding off Greg Biffle for the victory.

The Challenge Ahead for Reddick

The modern era of NASCAR has underscored the immense difficulty of maintaining a four-race winning streak. Several prominent drivers have come close, only to see their streaks halted. In 2018, both Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski won three consecutive races but were unable to extend their runs to four. Kevin Harvick also achieved a three-race streak that year, but a mid-race incident at Fontana ended his bid. Kyle Larson achieved three consecutive wins twice in 2021 but could not extend either streak. Joey Logano won three consecutive playoff races in 2015, but his chance at four was thwarted by a late-race crash orchestrated by Matt Kenseth. Most recently, Christopher Bell won three straight races in 2023, only to finish 12th in the subsequent event at Las Vegas.

NASCAR’s next stop is Phoenix Raceway, a venue that, while not a drafting track or road course, presents its own unique challenges. Reddick’s record at Phoenix is 0-12, with his best finishes being a pair of third-place results. His performance in the two Phoenix races last year resulted in 20th and 26th-place finishes, respectively. However, he did lead the most laps in a Phoenix race earlier in 2024, indicating a potential for strong performance on the one-mile oval. The upcoming race presents a significant opportunity for Reddick to etch his name further into NASCAR history, but the statistical evidence suggests a formidable challenge awaits him.