Tyler Reddick wins double overtime thriller to sweep opening NASCAR races
Tyler Reddick recovered from a late crash to win in double overtime at Echo Park Speedway, becoming the first driver in 17 years to sweep the opening two races of the NASCAR Cup Series season.
Fresh from his Daytona 500 triumph, the 23XI Racing driver delivered a second consecutive victory for co-owner Michael Jordan by outdueling Chase Briscoe and Ross Chastain.
The event on the 1.54-mile oval in Hampton, Georgia, featured a record-breaking 57 lead changes and a chaotic finish.
Jordan praises team effort
“Tyler did an unbelievable job,” said NBA legend Jordan, who watched his team dominate the early proceedings of the 2026 campaign.
“I feel bad for Bubba [Wallace] because he had an unbelievable day. But Tyler drove his ass off. I’m very happy for Tyler, very happy for 23XI.”
Teammate Wallace had led entering the final restart but was shuffled back to eighth place during the frenetic closing stages.
History makers rebound from damage
Reddick’s 10th career victory in the premier series came despite significant front-end damage to his No. 45 Toyota following a nine-car pile-up on lap 224.
By securing the win, the Cup Series leader became the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2009 to open a season with back-to-back victories.
Austin Cindric had earlier won the first stage, which ran entirely under green-flag conditions for the second year running.
Busch frustration boils over
The clean opening segment gave way to a chaotic middle stage, with defending champion Kyle Larson eliminated after hitting the wall.
Tempers flared elsewhere as Kyle Busch expressed his anger at Noah Gragson following a collision on the 125th lap.
“He didn’t give me an opportunity to make sure I was straight before hitting me or get into me gently to try and get the momentum back,” Busch said after finishing 33rd.
“He just drove right through me.”
The series now moves to the Circuit of the Americas on 1 March for the first road course event of the season.