NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick wins Phoenix, ends 23-race winless streak
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick won the Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix, ending a 23-race winless streak.
The win keeps his Cup Series title chase alive with three races left.
Background
Tyler Reddick drives the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing in NASCAR's Cup Series, the sport's top division. He opened 2026 by winning the first three races, including the Daytona 500, and took five of the first nine before a long drought. Phoenix hosted the seventh race of NASCAR's renewed 10-race Chase (the season-ending playoff), rather than its championship finale, which it had hosted since 2020.
How it unfolded
- Apr 19, 2026Reddick's last win before Phoenix came at Kansas Speedway.
- Oct 18, 2026Reddick won the Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, leading only the final 18 laps of 312 and beating polesitter Ryan Blaney by 0.801 seconds.
- Oct 18, 2026A late caution after points leader Kyle Larson's right-front tire failure on Lap 283 set up the finish; crew chief Billy Scott called for two scuffed tires and Reddick restarted fourth.
- Oct 18, 2026Larson finished 34th, cutting his Chase lead to five points over Christopher Bell with three races remaining.
- Oct 19, 2026Reports said Reddick sat seventh in the Chase standings, 56 points behind leader Kyle Larson.
- Oct 23, 2026Reddick said on the Dale Jr. Download podcast that preparation, team meetings and simulator work have increased and cut into family time.
Who’s saying what
- Driver
- Reddick said the team kept a good mindset through the drought and that conversations with co-owner Michael Jordan were impactful on him.
- Driver
- Reddick said the group never lost its motivation and that he hopes for a strong two weeks to go into Homestead with a shot at the title.
- Caution
- Reddick said the increased preparation away from the track has cut into family time, a balance he called tricky.