AUSTIN, Texas — Tyler Reddick’s recent victory has secured him a spot in NASCAR history.
He made history by becoming the first driver in the Cup Series to win the opening three races of a season, triumphing at the Circuit of the Americas after holding off a strong challenge from Shane van Gisbergen in the final laps.
Reddick, behind the wheel of a Toyota co-owned by Michael Jordan, kicked off the season with a win at the Daytona 500, followed by a victory in Atlanta, and then clinched the first road course race of the year, starting from the pole position.
Jordan, a legendary basketball player and six-time NBA champion, was seen celebrating with Reddick’s 23XI team as he crossed the finish line.
“It’s just one race, but it really mattered,” Reddick noted. “It’s pretty special to make history by winning three in a row.”
This milestone comes for a team that has been through a lot. They took legal action against NASCAR, and a settlement reached in December was a significant win that helped secure a franchise-style structure for their operations moving forward.
Since that point, they have been on an impressive winning streak.
“I’m really proud of our team,” Jordan remarked. He credited co-owner Denny Hamlin, who competes for Joe Gibbs Racing, as the strategic mind behind their success.
“I just funded it,” Jordan added. “Denise has done an amazing job in building up this team.”
Looking ahead, Jordan mentioned he plans to attend the next race in Phoenix, hopeful that Reddick can continue his winning momentum, which has given him a robust 70-point lead in the drivers’ championship.
Van Gisbergen, who dominated road courses last year, was aiming for a record-tying sixth consecutive road victory but had to settle for second place this time. The only road course race his team didn’t win last season was at Austin.
“Tyler was just fantastic all day,” Van Gisbergen commented. “With such high expectations, finishing second is tough to handle.”
Reddick displayed remarkable skill throughout the weekend while chasing this historic moment. His 11th career win was particularly sweet, marking his second victory at COTA, a venue traditionally designed for Formula 1. He previously won there in 2023.
Though Reddick seemed to be in control, the win wasn’t without its challenges. Van Gisbergen had been closely trailing for several laps but couldn’t gain enough speed to pass and gradually fell behind in the final laps.
“I just focused on limiting my errors. Shane is quite skilled,” Reddick said.
Jordan remarked on Reddick’s calmness behind the wheel, recalling his playing days under pressure.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking to see SVG closing in, but I think Tyler defended well the whole day,” Jordan reflected.
