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Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX – Tyler Reddick cemented his status as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series’ most dominant force today, clinching a historic victory at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and marking his third consecutive win to open the season. The 23XI Racing driver held off a fierce challenge from Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen in a thrilling road course battle, crossing the finish line approximately four seconds ahead of the New Zealand sensation.
This remarkable achievement makes Reddick the first driver in NASCAR history to win the opening three races of a new season, a feat that began with the iconic Daytona 500, continued with a victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and now culminates at the demanding COTA circuit. The win also signifies a monumental start for 23XI Racing, co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin. The team has become the first organization since Petty Enterprises in 1963 to win the first three races of a season, further bolstering their championship aspirations.
Reddick, visibly emotional after his triumph, spoke about the significance of the win. "It means the world," he stated. "It’s so fitting. We got going at the end of the race, I’m leading and there’s SVG – the guy I’ve been trying to beat for a while now. To be able to outlast him there and hold on for the win is just incredible. Just really proud of everyone on 23XI. We worked really hard, and we did not like getting beat like that at road courses. It’s one race, but it’s so important, so fitting to be able to get three in-a-row and make history."
The victory propels Reddick to the top of the championship standings, extending his lead and setting a formidable pace for the remainder of the season. Behind the leading duo, Christopher Bell secured a strong third-place finish for Joe Gibbs Racing, followed by Ty Gibbs in fourth. Michael McDowell rounded out the top five, continuing his consistent performance for Spire Motorsports. The remainder of the top ten included Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, AJ Allmendinger, and Denny Hamlin, showcasing a diverse range of teams and manufacturers.
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The race at COTA proved to be a strategic and often dramatic affair, marked by intense competition across all three stages.
Stage 1: Blaney’s Dominance Interrupted, Chastain Takes the Win
The opening stage saw an aggressive start, with Ryan Briscoe initially taking the lead after a daring three-wide maneuver into Turn 1. The field navigated the early laps cleanly, but Ryan Blaney, demonstrating strong long-run pace observed in practice, quickly closed the gap and assumed command. Blaney built a significant advantage, appearing poised to secure the stage victory.
Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen, starting from 13th, showcased his road-racing prowess by rapidly moving through the field to reach third place. As the stage neared its conclusion, a strategic decision by several drivers to short-pit for track position over stage points altered the complexion of the closing laps. Blaney was among those who opted out of contention for stage points, handing the Stage 1 win to Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing. Van Gisbergen followed Chastain in second, with Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, AJ Allmendinger, Ty Gibbs, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin completing the top ten.
Stage 2: Reddick Takes Control Amidst Incidents
Stage 2 saw Blaney reclaim the lead as the rest of the field pitted. Van Gisbergen led the pit lane activity, but Chastain experienced a setback, losing five positions after a brief stall on pit road. Van Gisbergen restarted 15th, but benefited from slightly fresher tires compared to the cars ahead.
The restart was marred by several incidents. Corey Zilisch spun through Turn 1 after contact from Daniel Suarez, while Noah Gragson also spun between Turns 6a and 6b. Amidst the midfield chaos, Tyler Reddick seized the opportunity to take the lead for the first time since starting from pole. He maintained the top spot until pitting with just three laps remaining in the stage, a strategic move designed to position him for the overall race win.
Further back, Josh Berry spun without bringing out a full-course caution. Pit road also saw penalties, with Alex Bowman receiving a pass-through penalty for an uncontrolled tire, and Austin Dillon facing an extended stop due to a broken shifter. With the front-runners pitting, Ty Gibbs capitalized to win the stage, followed by AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Reddick, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Cole Custer, William Byron, and Shane van Gisbergen.
Stage 3: A Strategic Gamble and a Near-Perfect Finish
The final stage began with Reddick holding the lead over Blaney, and van Gisbergen settling into fifth. Erik Jones spun early in the stage but managed to continue. A tense battle for position unfolded in the top ten between Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell.
A significant moment occurred with 32 laps remaining when Ryan Briscoe slowed abruptly with a rear-end failure, becoming the first car to retire to the garage. Reddick and Blaney pitted from the lead with 26 laps to go, with van Gisbergen following suit a lap later.
The race dynamic shifted dramatically when Ross Chastain spun off track due to a loose wheel that detached from his car, prompting a caution. Chastain was held for two laps, incurring additional penalties for the subsequent week. During this caution, a strategic split emerged: Reddick, Blaney, van Gisbergen, and Carson Hocevar opted to stay out on older tires, while a portion of the field pitted for fresh rubber.
Adding to the day’s drama, Alex Bowman exited his #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet due to illness, with Myatt Snider taking over for the remainder of the race.
On the subsequent restart, van Gisbergen successfully passed Blaney for second, while his teammate Hocevar spun for the second time in the race. Further back, Kyle Busch made contact with his teammate Jesse Love, which ultimately sent Chris Buescher spinning at the exit of the final corner.
The race resumed with van Gisbergen in pursuit of Reddick. With fresh tires, Christopher Bell made a strong charge to third, but the primary battle remained between Reddick and van Gisbergen. The Kiwi showed impressive speed, closing the gap but was unable to mount a decisive challenge on the championship leader. Reddick expertly managed his older tires, maintaining a gap and driving his #45 23XI Racing Toyota to victory.
The race concluded under green flag conditions, with Carson Hocevar spinning on the final lap, impacting his finishing position.
This victory not only adds another significant win to Tyler Reddick’s burgeoning career but also places him in rarefied air in NASCAR history, setting a high bar for his competitors as the 2026 season continues to unfold. The performance of 23XI Racing further underscores their status as a championship contender.
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