Cameron Bebeau

Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing have opened the 2026 season in a historic fashion. 
 
With victories in the Daytona 500, Autotrader 400 and the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix, Reddick became the first driver in NASCAR history to win the first three events in a NASCAR Cup Series season. 
 
Reddick, driver of the No. 45, started the season by going from sixth place to first on the final lap at the 2026 Daytona 500. In the final turn, he passed Chase Elliott for the lead before a bad block for position behind them resulted in a multi-car pileup. 
 
This sealed the deal, earning Michael Jordan his first Harley J. Earl Trophy.  
 
Reddick then followed this performance up with 53 laps led in Hampton, Georgia at EchoPark Speedway. He led more laps than anyone else, despite sustaining fender damage during an earlier accident. 
 
Heading into the third race, being contested at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Reddick looked prepared to earn the three-peat, as he’d won this same race three years ago. 
 
Reddick, who scored his eleventh career victory on Sunday, said post-race as reported by Fox Sports, “I think it’s so fitting that it had to happen coming into here, a place where I got my first pole years ago, a place that, road course wise, is a great fit for me.” 
 
When asked about what adjustments they made to correct their performance early on in the race, crew chief Billy Scott told reporters, “I think it was just about Tyler learning how hard to push, how much to save.” 
 
This dominant start to the season is monumental for 23XI Racing, which, alongside Front Row Racing, won their lawsuit against NASCAR for the sanctioning body’s alleged monopolistic practices and general charter disputes this offseason.  
 
Depending on the year, NASCAR owns 15 of the almost 32 racetracks they visit on the schedule – accounting for upwards of 20 of the 36 races. With how media rights are split, the money is paid out in different percentages between the teams, the sanctioning body and the tracks.  
 
This effectively allows NASCAR to “double dip” when it comes to the money it receives, with teams receiving as little as 15% of all revenue.  
 
The charter system NASCAR uses is like the NFL franchise system. Each charter is a guaranteed entry spot and payout, and the teams wanted charters to be permanent. NASCAR didn’t want to promise something they couldn’t financially deliver. 
 
Following more than a year of discovery and injunctions, the trial lasted nine days before the two parties settled. 
 
Following the settlement on Dec. 11, the New York Times reported that Jordan said: “The only way this sport’s going to grow is we have to find some synergy between the two entities, and I feel that we’ve gotten to this point,” with NASCAR CEO Jim France agreeing. 

 
If they had lost this lawsuit, it’s very likely they would’ve gone out of business. With the lawsuit behind them, the team can now focus on delivering its 100%. 

Originally Published at: http://www.fsuthevoice.com/michael-jordans-23xi-racing-sets-nascar-record/