Perspective On Tyler Reddick's Third Win In a Row To Start Season.
Can fans of other drivers hoping for a win for their guy enjoy this historical moment?
(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Chumba Casino Toyota, and son, Beau pose with the winner sticker on his car in victory lane after winning his third race in a row to start the 2026 NASCAR season winning the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) March 01, in Austin, Texas.
Notice in Logan Riely’s Getty Images photo (above) he captured JGR team owner Joe Gibbs enjoying the moment in the background of the 23XI Reddick win!
Reddick made NASCAR history as the first driver to win the first three races of the Cup Series season. His team’s co-owner Denny Hamlin said post race such a thing will never happen again in his lifetime. Why? Because two of the three races were on superspeedways?
“Yeah, that's why I'm confident in it not happening again of my lifetime, because of the randomness factor of those races. Defying odds, that's for sure. I don't know if you parlayed all your winnings from the first week, second week, third week what you'd have. I'm sure someone has figured that out, but it would be a big number.” Denny Hamlin post race
Everyone assumed that superspeedway ace Shane van Gisbergen would win the Circuit of the America’s Cup Race. He won the Saturday O’Reilly Auto Parts race and challenged Reddick on track on Sunday. But remember what SVG said after winning the Saturday race about how his Cup Car was for Sunday?
“Not very strong,” van Gisbergen said of his Sunday race car on Saturday.
Shane van Gisbergen finished Second at COTA Sunday after which he said, “I felt, okay, we got our SafetyCulture Chevy at lot better than yesterday, but just following Tyler, his driving was immaculate and his car was very good, too.”
“I tried, but didn’t quite have enough.” SVG
Back in the Deadline Room post Cup race, winning No.45 Crew Chief Billy Scott addressed the point in the race where Reddick fell back, and then went on to begin to pass cars and win. Reddick played it smart.
23XI Co-Team Owner Denny Hamlin called Reddick’s third race win in a row to start the season “unbelievable,” and a “dream start” and called Reddick “poised” and “disciplined.”
Reddick in the Deadline Room post race, it seemed, was trying to soak it all in and fully digest what he had just accomplished.
The post race story on Reddick’s historical third win of the season at COTA included a beaming co-owner and NBA Hall of Fame member Michael Jordan (who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls) beaming and hugging his driver and co-team owner Denny Hamlin and fully enjoying the win. The moment wasn’t lost on Jordan who has seen many epic moments in his career!
So back to the NASCAR race fans, as noted in the sub head above. Can fans enjoy the historical moment without being angry that they have just seen three races their own driver didn’t win? If you want to talk history - fans have been tough on perpetual winners. Remember when Gordon started winning a lot? Fans of other drivers were brutal.
My assessment of the fans reaction to Reddick’s third win of the season is that it’s primarily positive, with some black helicopter conspiracy theorists and upset fans of other drivers sprinkled in.
There were a lot of fans who were Tyler Reddick fans who were excited to go into work after the historic win!
As I mentioned, you’ll have the black helicopters flying overhead whenever a NASCAR driver wins a lot. Different reasons given but it always happens. It’s not a rare thing when a driver starts winning multiple times.
The Michael Jordan effect is creating a great deal of attention to the win.)
Reaction to the NY Post story (one of many media outlets covering the win) included many “greatness breeds greatness” posts. There were also a number like this..asking the post to give more credit to the driver!
Jordan was clear in his post race interviews - he gave great credit to Tyler Reddick and to co-owner Denny Hamlin - and said he only provided the money to help make the team happen.
There were plenty of congratulations and comments post race from the racing community.
One thing is for certain - when race fans walked into work today you can be sure the conversation will be about the historic race win. I wondered if some fans watching stuck around to the end of the race just to see if Reddick could do it.
Stick around the site for more perspective throughout the week and be sure to add yours!
My take - I’m sorry to burst your theory but the court case had nothing to do with wins by Tyler Reddick - that is absurd. Sometimes in sports athletes and teams get on a roll. As to any “cheating” theories I know that NASCAR takes an even closer look when someone is on a winning roll. They’d like a different driver winning every week. Add to that I certainly do understand if Reddick keeps winning why if I followed another driver I’d be disappointed and upset. That’s sports.
Lot’s to talk about!
Bravo to Reddick. I thought SVG would catch and pass him but Reddick drove a great race hitting his marks. Great prep by the team. Most amazing performance under tough circumstances with the heat Sunday.