Tyler Reddick began the NASCAR season with an unprecedented sweep of the first three races, marking him as the first driver to achieve this feat since 1949. Despite his early dominance, Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas proved more challenging, where he led 58 out of 95 laps but did not secure a win. Now, Reddick sets his sights on Phoenix, determined to maintain the streak.
Historical Struggles at Phoenix Track
Phoenix has been a difficult venue for Reddick, as he has yet to claim a victory in 12 attempts there. His average finish at the track is 17.8, with only two results inside the top five: a sixth-place finish in the 2024 finale and a third-place result in the 2022 spring race. Additionally, he has secured four top-10 finishes at Phoenix.
Developing Momentum and Team Progress
Although Reddick’s performance statistics at Phoenix lag behind those from other tracks, he and his team, 23XI Racing, have made steady improvements, especially since the introduction of the current car model. Their progress has closed the gap, fueling optimism going into upcoming races.
Well, I know the numbers don’t necessarily — well, my experience is in spring in Phoenix. A number of years, I think dating back to even the start of this car, we’ve been able to go there and be knocking on the door,
Reddick explained.
In my opinion, we go to the spring Phoenix race, we’re typically, like, right there. For whatever reason, when we go in the fall, we’re a little bit off. But I feel like we’ve, again, kind of like we’ve done here, I’m really excited to see what we have for speed and pace over the next two weekends because we’ve worked really hard to improve things here,
he added.
Refining Strategy After Las Vegas Gains
The No. 45 team has revisited its approach for Phoenix, intensifying the advancements made at Las Vegas and viewing the next two weekends as critical indicators of progress. Reddick acknowledges the importance of these races as a test of their work.
Recent Phoenix Setbacks and Comebacks
Reddick’s latest Phoenix outings have been marred by mechanical troubles. In the March race last season, a power steering failure ended his chance despite running near the front for most of the event. Later that year, after elimination in the Round of 12, he concluded the season with a 26th-place finish at the Phoenix finale, which also marked his first winless season since 2021.
In contrast, his 2024 season showcased his capability to compete under pressure: Reddick reached the Championship 4, raced for the Cup title at Phoenix, and finished within the top 10, affirming his ability to perform when stakes are high.
Chasing an Elusive Winning Streak
If Reddick extends his current string of victories to include Phoenix, he would approach a milestone last achieved by Jimmie Johnson, who recorded four straight wins in 2007. Many drivers have attempted to match that streak, but none have succeeded so far. The upcoming races will reveal if Reddick can join the ranks of those who have defied the odds and made NASCAR history.
Transcript: Tyler Reddick — Press Conference https://t.co/6mrcEUdjPd pic.twitter.com/vQ9pwVm1Sw
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) March 2, 2026
