Why Tyler Reddick Will Be a Contender at Kansas Speedway

It was a historic start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season for Tyler Reddick. The driver of the No. 45 kicked off the campaign by winning the season-opening Daytona 500, passing Chase Elliott on the final stretch to become a victor of "The Great American Race."

Reddick backed it up the following week with a win at EchoPark Speedway, becoming the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2009 to win the first two races of the season. One week later at Circuit of The Americas, Reddick made history by becoming the first driver to win the first three races of the season.

Advertisement

Reddick's winning ways would not stop there as he scored a victory in the Goodyear 400 at Darlington three races later. Then, the 23XI Racing driver passed Kyle Larson on the last lap at Kansas for his fifth victory of the season in just nine races.

Reddick became the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win five of the first nine races of the Cup Series season. However, Reddick has not made it back to victory lane since.

Reddick enters Kansas in a different position compared to April

At one point, Reddick had a 100-plus points lead after his early-season dominance. However, some misfortunes allowed Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, to close in by the midpoint of the season and take over the top spot.

Advertisement

Hamlin would win the regular season championship and claim the top spot in the Chase, while Reddick's slump had him shuffled back to the third seed when the Chase began three races ago.

After the April Kansas race, Reddick looked unstoppable and was the clear favorite to win the 2026 championship. Now, as the Cup Series gets set to return to Kansas Speedway this Sunday, Reddick finds himself seventh in the points standings, 61 points behind leader Kyle Larson.

Reddick showed promise in the Chase opener with a third-place finish. However, a 25th-place result at World Wide Technology Raceway followed by an 18th-place finish at Bristol has mired Reddick back in the Chase standings.

Why Kansas can be the turnaround Reddick needs

Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway could be where Reddick turns things around.

Advertisement

For one, Reddick is the defending Kansas winner after starting on the pole and finishing third in both stages. Reddick is a two-time Kansas winner with his other victory coming in the 2023 Hollywood Casino 400.

In his last seven Kansas starts, Reddick has recorded two wins and four top-10 finishes. The 30-year-old has proven speed in qualifying, too, with five top-five starts and a pole in the last seven Kansas races.

With Kansas on the horizon, as well as two 1.5-mile tracks to follow, Reddick could easily turn his title hopes around on Sunday.