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Denny Hamlin during qualifying.
Denny Hamlin did not try to downplay what Tyler Reddick has done to open the NASCAR Cup Series season. He called it rare and called it unlikely to happen again. After three races, Reddick has three wins. Daytona, Atlanta, and COTA.
Tyler Reddick drove the No. 45 car to Victory Lane each time. The start places 23XI Racing in a small group in NASCAR history.
Denny Hamlin, who co-owns the team and competes in the series, sounded stunned when asked about it. He pointed to the variety of tracks and the discipline Reddick has shown in each race.
Denny Hamlin Says Tyler Reddick Is Winning in Every Way
Reddick’s first two wins came at drafting tracks. Daytona and Atlanta require precision in traffic. Drivers run inches apart. One wrong push can end a race. The third win came at COTA. That race required braking control and patience.
“Atlanta is quite a bit different than Daytona and how you drive there. He’s just getting it done in all kinds of different ways.”
Denny Hamlin said the range stands out. Superspeedways often turn chaotic late. Road courses demand rhythm and tire management. Reddick handled both.
Hamlin pointed to Phoenix as the next test. He said Phoenix has not been Reddick’s strongest track in past seasons.
“That’s where we’re going to know how big that momentum is. But they’re locked in right now. Tyler’s locked in.”
Hamlin also highlighted restarts. He said that is where races are often won or lost.
“He just stayed absolutely disciplined and didn’t make any mistakes. That’s what champions are made of, and he’s well on his way.”
Why Hamlin Believes This NASCAR Start May Not Happen Again
Denny Hamlin stressed how hard it is to win at Daytona and Atlanta. Both tracks carry a randomness factor. Late cautions shuffle the field. One move can decide everything.
“That’s probably why I’m confident in it not happening again in my lifetime. Because of the randomness factor of those races. Defying odds, that’s for sure.”
Hamlin described Reddick as a complete driver. He said the team continues to work with him on short tracks, but the overall package is strong.
“The one area we continue to work on with him is on the short tracks. But he’s certainly more complete than I was at this stage.”
Denny Hamlin compared Reddick to others in the field. He said Reddick has fewer weak spots than most.
“There’s less of those for him. The work he puts in, the information we provide him, he’s soaking it all in and executing it.”
Late in the most recent race, Reddick appeared to manage his speed. Hamlin said that showed maturity.
“You don’t have to go 100 percent to get the job done. You just do enough to win.”
What Tyler Reddick’s Run Means for 23XI Racing
Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. He helped build the organization from the ground up. The current success carries weight for him.
“It’s just so gratifying. When I see Michael afterwards, he’s very appreciative. He knows the work I’m doing there to make all this happen.”
Hamlin said the partnership works because of trust. He once explored buying into an existing team. He did not find the control he wanted.
“This doesn’t work unless he gives me the autonomy to do it. I wanted to make sure that if it failed, it was because of something I did. This team had like three employees working out of Mike Wheeler’s garage. We had zero. We didn’t buy a team. We just built it. And this is what we’re doing. It’s pretty amazing.”
Three races are complete. Tyler Reddick has won all three. Denny Hamlin is not brushing it off. He knows how hard this is in modern NASCAR. He also knows history rarely repeats itself.
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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