Race Report: Tyler Reddick Wins COTA and Makes NASCAR History

By Bob Francis Motorsports Reporter, Managing Editor Go Full Throttle Racing News March 1, 2026

AUSTIN, TX — A historic drive by Tyler Reddick to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas, becoming the first driver to win the first three races of a Cup season. The odds of accomplishing this were slim, with only a 17% likelihood of success, as calculated by the Go Full Throttle NASCAR AI Race Prediction Models.

Tyler Reddick's epic burnout after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (Image Credit: Logan Riely | Getty Images)

Tyler Reddick climbs on top of his №45 Toyota in elation after winning his third consecutive Cup Series race to start the 2026 season. (Image Credit: Logan Riely | Getty Images)

Road course ace, Shane van Gisbergen, who entered COTA winning five straight road-course races (which ties a NASCAR record), was going for his own history-making 6th win- but finished 2nd, 3.9 seconds back, unable to catch Reddick after the final restart at 17 to go.

Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen charges through the field during Sunday’s Cup Series race at COTA. (Image Credit: Logan Riely | Getty Images)

Race Fast Facts

Circuit of The Americas DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne

Race Winner: Tyler Reddick Age: 30 Team : №45 —23xi Racing Chumba Casino Toyota Owner: Michael Jordan Crew Chief: Billy Scott

Tyler Reddick won the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne, his 11th victory in 221 Cup Series races.

The win is Tyler Reddick’s third victory and third top-10 finish in 2026. Reddick is the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win the first three races of a season. The win is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in six races at Circuit of The Americas.

Shane Van Gisbergen finished 2nd, earning his second top-10 finish in three races at Circuit of The Americas. It is his second top-10 finish in 2026.

Christopher Bell finished 3rd for his fourth top-10 finish in six races at Circuit of The Americas.

Connor Zilisch (14th) was the highest finishing rookie.

COTA Race Results

Race Highlights, Stats, and Facts:

After triumphs in the Daytona 500 and the EchoPark Speedway race at Atlanta, Reddick delivered a masterclass on the 2.4-mile, 17-turn Circuit of the Americas road course, leading a race-high 58 of 95 laps and holding off a fierce challenge from road-course specialist Shane van Gisbergen.

Reddick earned the pole with a lap of 88.380 mph, sharing the front row with Ross Chastain. The race unfolded under intense heat, with track temperatures reaching 109 degrees at the start, testing crews and drivers alike. Stage 1 (20 laps) went to Chastain, who benefited from a strategic short-pit cycle. Stage 2 (to lap 45) belonged to Ty Gibbs, who capitalized on the restart shuffle after early incidents, including Connor Zilisch’s spin in Turn 1 from contact with Daniel Suarez and a multi-car melee that collected Austin Cindric and Zane Smith.

Turn 1 at Circuit of the Americas, aka Calamity Corner (Image Credit: Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media)

The final stage featured three cautions for 10 laps total. The pivotal yellow flew on Lap 75 when Chastain’s №1 Chevrolet shed a wheel off Turn 1, bringing the field in for fresh tires and fuel. Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and van Gisbergen stayed out initially on older rubber before cycling through. On the Lap 79 restart, van Gisbergen (starting 13th and charging through the field) dove past Blaney for second through the esses. For the next eight laps, the New Zealander hounded Reddick, pulling alongside in several corners, but Reddick’s superior forward drive and horsepower up the hill to Turn 1 proved decisive.

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The №45 pulled away steadily, crossing the line 3.944 seconds ahead as Carson Hocevar spun hard on the final lap without triggering a caution.

Last year’s winner at COTA, Christopher Bell charged to third on fresher tires, with Gibbs fourth, Michael McDowell fifth, Kyle Larson sixth, Chase Elliott seventh, Blaney eighth, A.J. Allmendinger ninth (who required medical attention afterward due to a failed cool suit), and Hamlin 10th. Alex Bowman exited early due to illness, with Myatt Snider relieving him.

Tyler Reddick holds off Shane van Gisbergen late to win at COTA, ending SVG’s streak of five-consecutive road course wins. Reddick also becomes the first driver to win three straight races to open a season. (James Gilbert | Getty Images)

The victory marked Reddick’s 11th career Cup win and second at COTA. Van Gisbergen’s bid for a record-tying sixth straight road-course triumph ended in disappointment, though he praised Reddick’s pace. Post-race, Reddick led the standings by 70 points over teammate Bubba Wallace, with Elliott third.

Top 25 Points Report

In the sweltering Texas heat, Reddick’s composure, strategy calls by crew chief Billy Scott, and car setup delivered a winning performance that broke SVG’s hold on road-course racing in the Cup Series.

NASCAR heads next to Phoenix Raceway for the “Desert Double” with IndyCar.