AUSTIN, Texas — Tyler Reddick drove straight into the NASCAR record books with his most recent win.
Reddick held off hard-charging Shane van Gisbergen over the final 20 laps Sunday at Circuit of the Americas to become the first Cup Series driver to win the first three races of any regular season.
Driving the 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota, Reddick took the checkered flag in dramatic fashion at the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, finished first again a week later at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta, then won from the pole position in the first road course race of the year.
His team is co-owned by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, retired basketball legend Michael Jordan and the six-time NBA champion’s business manager Curtis Polk, and the former Chicago Bulls star exchanged high-fives with the No. 45 crew as Reddick crossed the finish line in the Lone Star State.
“It’s one race, but it was so important,” Reddick said. “It’s so fitting to get three in a row and make history.”