Tyler Reddick has again opened the NASCAR Cup Series weekend in strong fashion at the Circuit of The Americas by winning the Busch Light Pole Award for the DuraMAX Grand Prix on Saturday.
The No. 45 Toyota 23XI Racing driver posted the fastest qualifying lap at 88.380 mph to secure first place on the grid for Sunday’s race. He narrowly edged out Ross Chastain, who posted a speed of 88.256 mph to qualify second, by 0.137 seconds.
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With two wins already in the season, Reddick is now in position to make history as the first driver ever to win the first three races of a NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
NASCAR fans reacted as Reddick got one step closer to breaking the unrivalled record on X.
“It’s 23XI’s world and we’re just living in it,” a fan wrote.
“Elite,” another replied.
“Wow, Tyler is on a roll! Good for him!” another commented.
Tyler Reddick’s record at COTA is also one of the strongest in the series. Across five starts at the road course, he has never finished outside the top 10, and the 30-year-old’s average finish of 4.6 at COTA is the best among all active drivers.
“Reddick is on fire and it shows. Revenge tour still going strong,” a fan wrote.
“Reddick championship before my very eyes holy sh*t,” another shared.
“That 45 team is LOCKED in right now. Tyler’s been fast all weekend and grabbing the pole at COTA is no small feat. Road course Reddick is a different animal. Let’s see if they can turn that speed into a trophy tomorrow,” yet another replied.
Reddick also shares the lead for most road course poles at COTA with two, tied with William Byron.
“Starting up front is huge” – Tyler Reddick expands on advantages of starting upfront at COTA
Tyler Reddick, who also started the COTA race from the pole last season, saw real value in starting at the front for Sunday’s Cup race. Getting the pole gives him control at the start and keeps him out of early traffic and trouble in the 95-lap race.
“Starting up front is huge. … We need to maintain that and hang onto it this time around. It certainly helps, you know? Obviously, I think the run under green and everything is pretty even, but certainly if things kind of get off sequence and pit road gets busy I’m going to have first choice and it’s nice to have in the race,” Tyler Reddick said following the qualifying session on Saturday.
After Reddick and Chastain, Chase Briscoe qualified third, and fourth place went to Ryan Blaney. Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, AJ Allmendinger, defending COTA winner Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, and William Byron rounded out the top 10.
Meanwhile, road course ace Shane van Gisbergen qualified further back at 13th on Sunday, March 1.
Edited by Hitesh Nigam
