With two thrilling finishes below its belt, NASCAR has opened its season sturdy and definitely raised questions. The most important one could be this: Who or what can cease crew house owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, their two 23XI Racing groups and rising drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace?
After final season discovered the group and Entrance Row Motorsports in courtroom towards NASCAR concerning an antitrust accusation, with Jordan and firm citing the sanctioning physique as an unfair, monopolistic group, a settlement was reached on Dec. 11.
23XI Racing has not let any distraction gradual it down, although the third race this season — the 95-lapper across the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sunday in Austin, Texas — will likely be a a lot completely different animal to cope with than the primary two drafting tracks.
It is an affectionate animal for Reddick so far.
The NASCAR Cup Collection has visited the Texas tornado of a monitor 5 occasions for the reason that 2020 COVID-affected marketing campaign.
Following Chase Elliott’s win in 2021 and Ross Chastain’s a yr later, Reddick used a sequence of sharp lefts and rights to handily beat Kyle Busch in 2023 for his fourth profession win and first with 23XI Racing in a race that had 16 lead modifications and three,110 green-flag passes (53.6 per lap).
Over the previous two seasons, William Byron and defending winner Christopher Bell have been the most effective at determining the monitor that appears prefer it was designed on an Etch A Sketch.
Bell’s victory a yr in the past got here towards Byron, however the day’s greatest story was that street racing ace Shane van Gisbergen didn’t discover the checkers first and completed sixth after main 23 laps.
That is disappointing for somebody who went 5-for-6 on street programs in 2025.
The Jordan/Hamlin-led crew brings a ton of momentum to the Lone Star State, and Reddick stands on the cusp of being alone in historical past Sunday.
No driver has ever opened with three factors wins. Solely Matt Kenseth (2009), Jeff Gordon (1997), David Pearson (1976), Bob Welborn (1959) and Marvin Panch (1957) have gained two consecutive races out of the gate.
“If at any level throughout this week I am working out of causes to be motivated to go win, I will preserve that in my again pocket, for certain,” Reddick mentioned. “You recognize, it is cool to find a way, or have the chance to probably do issues like that, however … it is all about simply doing every little thing I can and displaying up each week being as ready as I can.”
Naturally, the hotshot leads in factors as Texas looms within the Southwestern horizon. He has 125 factors, whereas teammate Wallace, the highest driver with 86 laps led, is 40 factors again in second.
In reality, Wallace’s identify might have changed Reddick’s right here this week, and the No. 23 Toyota that led within the closing laps at Daytona and Atlanta could possibly be racing in Austin for historical past with a few breaks or higher last maneuvers.
But successful in Texas sounds speculative.
“Pray for me,” Wallace joked about COTA, the place he completed twentieth final time.
Can Reddick win once more within the Texas capital like he did in 2023, or is it attainable the snaking COTA will constrict 23XI Racing’s profitable run to start out 2026?
The reply to each are as apparent as asking Michael Jordan if he is aware of his championship ring measurement.
–Area Stage Media
