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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 Long John Silver’s Ford, and Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Body Guard Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season kicked off with a historic display of dominance by Tyler Reddick. The 23XI Racing driver became the first in the modern era to win the opening three races, capturing the Daytona 500, EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, and the Circuit of the Americas.
Tyler Reddick’s impressive start vaulted him to an early and commanding lead in the championship standings. Over the first four races, he showcased not only remarkable speed and consistency but also excellent race management.
Even after his win streak ended at Phoenix Raceway, Reddick maintained a strong grip on the points lead as the season progressed.
Ryan Blaney Wins at Phoenix After Late-Race Pass
Reddick’s win streak ended on March 8 during the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. The race featured frequent cautions and several incidents across the field.
Officials displayed 12 yellow flags during the event. Multiple crashes slowed the pace and forced teams to rely on pit strategy.
Ryan Blaney recovered from early problems to take control late in the race. The Team Penske driver dealt with loose wheels on pit road earlier in the event but worked his way back through traffic.
Blaney passed Ty Gibbs with nine laps remaining and pulled away to secure the win. He crossed the finish line ahead of Christopher Bell.
The victory marked Blaney’s first win of the 2026 season and the 18th of his NASCAR Cup Series career. It also delivered Ford’s first win of the season.
Updated NASCAR Cup Series Standings After Phoenix Raceway
The standings following Phoenix Raceway show Reddick maintaining a clear lead in the championship. He sits first with 225 points and 31 stage points after four races.
Ryan Blaney moved into second place with 165 points. Bubba Wallace ranks third with 153 points after several consistent finishes. Chase Elliott holds fourth with 128 points.
Shane van Gisbergen sits fifth with 116 points. Christopher Bell and Joey Logano each have 113 points in sixth and seventh. Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher both have 111 points, while Kyle Larson completes the top ten with 109 points.
Just outside the top ten, William Byron has 108 points, and Denny Hamlin has 107. AJ Allmendinger follows with 104 points, while Carson Hocevar holds 103 points. Ty Gibbs rounds out the top fifteen with 101 points after four races.
Brad Keselowski sits 16th with 100 points, followed by Daniel Suarez with 98 and Ryan Preece with 92. Zane Smith holds 85 points, and Kyle Busch has 81 points through the opening four races of the season.
With the first four races complete, the early championship picture shows Reddick in control while the rest of the field remains tightly grouped behind him as the series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400.
Tyler Reddick Opens the Season With Historic Three-Race Win Streak
Reddick began the year with a victory in the Daytona 500. The win gave 23XI Racing an early boost and placed him among the drivers to watch in the championship fight.
He followed that performance with another strong run at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Reddick controlled key portions of the race and secured his second straight victory of the season.
One week later, he extended the streak at the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. The road course event required careful strategy and clean execution. Reddick managed both and secured his third consecutive win.
The three straight victories marked the first time a driver opened a Cup Series season with three wins. Reddick also produced strong numbers through the first four races. He recorded three wins, three top-five finishes, four top-10 results, and one pole position.
Those results placed him first in the championship standings with 225 points after the Phoenix race weekend.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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