Tyler Reddick has the opportunity to make history this weekend at Phoenix Raceway by winning his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race to start the season. The 23XI Racing driver opened the 2026 season with three straight victories, setting a new precedent, and a win this Sunday would place him alongside legendary Cup champions like Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon who have also accomplished this rare feat.
Mark Martin, a NASCAR Hall of Famer and veteran driver, expressed confidence in Reddick’s performance and the strength of the 23XI Racing team. He highlighted that neither Reddick’s recent success nor that of his teammate Bubba Wallace, who holds second place in the Cup points standings, is coincidental. Both drivers have demonstrated remarkable speed and consistency going into this weekend’s event.
“There’s an awful good chance of it. They’re hitting on all cylinders. And I just, I want to revert back again to Bubba Wallace is showing the same kind of speed. So it’s not a fluke. They’re strong right now. They’re actually putting as fast or faster race cars on the racetrack than the Gibbs bunch is right now,” Mark Martin said.
“So yes, I give him a good solid chance. When things are clicking, they’re clicking. When you’ve got fast race cars and you’ve got that momentum, you’ve got that wind at your back, you’ve got that tailwind, it all adds up.”
Historic Context of Four Wins in a Row in NASCAR Cup Series
Winning four consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races is a rare achievement. Only eight drivers have reached this milestone, including Mark Martin himself, along with Hall of Famers like Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Harry Gant, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson. Martin’s own four-race streak occurred in 1993 with wins at Watkins Glen, Michigan, Bristol, and Darlington.
Jimmie Johnson is the most recent driver to accomplish this, with a four-race winning streak during the 2007 season. If Reddick can secure Sunday’s race victory at Phoenix, a 1-mile oval track, he will join this exclusive group, marking a historic moment for the sport and the 23XI Racing team.
The upcoming race at Phoenix Raceway is the fourth event in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar, scheduled for Sunday, March 8, with qualifying set for the day before.
Mark Martin to Serve as Honorary Pace Car Driver at Darlington This Spring
In addition to commenting on Reddick’s winning streak, Mark Martin will be returning to Darlington Raceway in a ceremonial role this spring. On March 22, he will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the Goodyear 400, a prestigious NASCAR event held at the iconic 1.366-mile oval.
Martin, who holds 12 career victories at Darlington including the 2009 Southern 500, expressed his sentiments after the announcement, reflecting on his connection to the track.
“Some tracks never leave you. Honored to return this Spring as the Honorary Pace Car Driver and lead the field to green at the Lady in Black,” Mark Martin wrote on Instagram.
Martin has a history of involvement at Darlington, having previously served as grand marshal for the Southern 500 in 2017, further cementing his legacy at one of NASCAR’s most revered circuits.
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