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Tyler Reddick has etched his name into the NASCAR Cup Series record books by becoming the second driver in the Next Gen era (since 2022) to achieve three consecutive victories. However, his current streak elevates him beyond that benchmark, placing him in an elite category as the only driver in NASCAR’s 78-year history to win the opening three races of a season across diverse track types, including two drafting ovals and a road course. This remarkable accomplishment sets the stage for a potential "rare four-peat" at Phoenix Raceway this weekend, a feat that has not been achieved in nearly two decades.
The list of drivers who have managed to win four consecutive Cup Series races since the modern era began in 1972 is exceptionally short, comprising only eight names. Each of these drivers is a NASCAR Hall of Famer, and six of them are Cup Series champions, underscoring the immense significance of Reddick’s current pursuit.
Reddick’s path to this juncture has been anything but smooth. His victories at Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Circuit of the Americas (COTA) were hard-fought battles, often decided in the closing laps against formidable competition. The close nature of modern NASCAR racing further amplifies the impressiveness of his three-win streak.
At Daytona, Reddick navigated two last-lap crashes to secure his first win, leading only a single lap in the sport’s most prestigious race. His Atlanta victory was a testament to resilience, as he recovered from a late-race incident, took the lead in double overtime, and held on despite significant damage to his car. The COTA win saw him fending off renowned road racing specialist Shane van Gisbergen in a tense final stage.
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Should Reddick succeed in extending his winning streak to four at Phoenix Raceway, he would join a pantheon of NASCAR legends. Their individual journeys to achieving this rare feat offer valuable context to the magnitude of Reddick’s potential accomplishment.
Cale Yarborough – 1976
Yarborough’s four consecutive wins occurred during his first championship-winning season, a period of overwhelming dominance. Between September and October 1976, he led over 200 laps in each of his victories. The streak commenced at Richmond, where he narrowly defeated Bobby Allison. His subsequent wins saw increasingly commanding margins of victory: over seven seconds ahead of Richard Petty at Dover, a 14-second advantage over Darrell Waltrip at Martinsville, and finally, a full lap over Benny Parsons at North Wilkesboro, punctuating an extraordinary run.
Darrell Waltrip – 1981
Waltrip’s four-race winning streak mirrored Yarborough’s in timing and even included two of the same tracks. Driving for Junior Johnson, Waltrip began his streak at Martinsville, finishing 7.8 seconds ahead of Harry Gant. He then replicated Yarborough’s feat by beating Bobby Allison by over a lap at North Wilkesboro. Waltrip’s dominance continued at Charlotte, where he again finished nearly a full lap ahead of Allison. The streak concluded at Rockingham, where Waltrip passed Allison with just 11 laps remaining. This remarkable run preceded Waltrip’s first of three Cup Series titles that year.
Dale Earnhardt – 1987
Earnhardt’s impressive winning streak occurred earlier in the season than Reddick’s current run, but the competitive landscape had intensified. His streak began at Darlington, where he overtook Bill Elliott as Elliott’s car ran out of fuel on the final lap. Earnhardt followed this with a win at North Wilkesboro, holding off Kyle Petty. He then defeated Richard Petty by less than a second at Bristol, and concluded the streak at Martinsville by holding off Rusty Wallace. Earnhardt went on to win the championship that season.
Harry Gant – 1991
Gant’s achievement is unique as he is not a Cup Series champion. At over 50 years old when he accomplished this feat, he also holds the record for the oldest Cup Series winner, a record he set the following year at 52. Gant, elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, earned his nickname "Mr. September" in 1991. His streak began with a dominant victory at the Southern 500, beating Ernie Irvan by over ten seconds. He then engaged in a spirited battle with Davey Allison at Richmond, eventually taking the lead with 18 laps remaining. His Dover win was a commanding performance, finishing over a lap ahead of Geoff Bodine. The fourth win at Martinsville was a display of sheer determination; after crashing and sustaining significant damage, Gant charged back from a lap down to retake the lead with 46 laps to go and secure the victory.
Bill Elliott – 1992
Elliott’s streak commenced with a comfortable victory at Rockingham. However, his second win at Richmond was a nail-biting photo finish against Alan Kulwicki. He then achieved a decisive victory at Atlanta, winning by over 18 seconds with Harry Gant a distant second. Elliott completed his four-peat at Darlington, overtaking Gant late in the race to secure his fourth consecutive win.
Mark Martin – 1993
Martin’s winning streak began at Watkins Glen, inheriting the lead after a dramatic crash involving Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He then secured a straightforward victory at Michigan before facing a fierce challenge from Rusty Wallace at Bristol, ultimately passing him with 12 laps remaining. Martin completed his four-peat at Darlington, passing Brett Bodine late in the race to win the Southern 500.
Jeff Gordon – 1998
In the summer of 1998, Jeff Gordon was in peak form, winning 13 races that season. His four consecutive victories came between the 18th and 21st races. The streak began at Pocono with a dominant performance over Mark Martin. He then won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, holding off a late charge. At Watkins Glen, Gordon passed Mike Skinner for the lead with four laps to go, with Martin finishing second. The final win came at Michigan, where Gordon had to pass Martin with less than 10 laps remaining, ultimately pulling away from a battle between Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett.
Jimmie Johnson – 2007
The most recent driver to achieve this feat was Jimmie Johnson, during his record-setting run of five consecutive Cup Series titles. His four wins occurred at the end of the 2007 season. He secured victories at Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas, and Phoenix. While some of his wins were dominant, others, like his Atlanta victory, required late-race charges and strategic pit calls. At Texas, he overtook Matt Kenseth with two laps remaining, and at Phoenix, he passed Martin Truex Jr. with 23 laps to go before holding off Greg Biffle.
The challenge facing Reddick is underscored by recent history. In the modern era, extending a three-win streak to four has proven exceptionally difficult. Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski both won three consecutive races in 2018 but failed to reach four. Kevin Harvick experienced a similar fate that year, with a mid-race incident at Fontana ending his streak. Kyle Larson achieved three consecutive wins twice in 2021, but a late tire failure at Pocono prevented him from making it four. Joey Logano won three straight playoff races in 2015, only to be intentionally crashed out of the lead at Martinsville by Matt Kenseth. Most recently, Christopher Bell’s three-race winning streak in 2023 ended with a 12th-place finish at Las Vegas.
NASCAR’s next stop is Phoenix Raceway, a track that often presents a more conventional racing challenge compared to drafting ovals or road courses. If Reddick possesses the necessary pace, he will undoubtedly be a contender. However, his record at Phoenix is not as strong as his recent performances might suggest. He has a 0-12 record at the track, with two third-place finishes being his best results. In the two Phoenix races last year, he finished 20th and 26th. Despite this, he did lead the most laps in a Phoenix race earlier in 2024, indicating a potential for improvement. The upcoming race will be a significant test of Reddick’s current form and his ability to etch another historic chapter into NASCAR’s storied past.
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