In a stunning turn of events that has left the NASCAR world absolutely speechless, Tyler Reddick has etched his name into the record books forever.

The 30-year-old driver, piloting the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing – the team co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan – has done what no one else in the 77-year history of the NASCAR Cup Series has ever achieved: winning the opening three races of the season.

Reddick’s historic hat-trick was sealed in dramatic fashion on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, where he started from pole position, led a race-high 58 laps, and fended off a ferocious late charge from road-course maestro Shane van Gisbergen to claim victory by nearly four seconds.

It’s the kind of start that legends are made of – and right now, Tyler Reddick looks every bit the unstoppable force in a sport built on parity, unpredictability, and sheer chaos.

From the ‘Great American Race’ to total domination

It all began under the lights at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026, in the 68th running of the iconic Daytona 500.

Reddick, who had endured a winless 2025 season plagued by frustrations both on and off the track, waited until the absolute final moment to make his move. In a race that descended into mayhem – with a staggering 37 of the 41 cars officially involved in “The Big One” on the last lap – Reddick slipped through the carnage like a ghost.

He passed Chase Elliott on the final circuit and held on as cars spun wildly behind him, crossing the line 0.308 seconds ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to claim his first-ever Daytona 500 triumph.

Michael Jordan, watching from the pits, erupted in celebration alongside team co-owner Denny Hamlin. For the basketball icon who entered NASCAR to break barriers and chase championships, this was the slam-dunk moment he’d been waiting for.

Just one week later, the series headed to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second race of the year. Reddick backed it up in style, leading key laps and outdueling the field once again to become the first driver since Matt Kenseth in 2009 to win the opening two races of a season.

Suddenly, whispers turned into roars: Could he make it three?

The road course showdown that sealed immortality

Fast-forward to March 1 at COTA, the twisting, turning 3.41-mile road course in the heart of Texas. Temperatures soared into the 80s, the sun beat down, and the pressure was on.

Reddick qualified on pole – no surprise given his road-course prowess – and controlled the race from the drop of the green flag. He led 58 of the 95 laps in a display of precision driving that left even the commentators in awe.

But the real drama came in the closing stages. Shane van Gisbergen – the Kiwi sensation who had won five straight NASCAR road/street course races entering the day – came charging hard. The former Supercars champion was hunting his sixth in a row and wasn’t about to let Reddick cruise away.

Lap after lap, van Gisbergen closed the gap, pressuring the No. 45 Toyota relentlessly. Yet Reddick never cracked. He defended every apex, hit every mark, and pulled away in the final 20 laps to secure a commanding victory.

As he crossed the finish line, the enormity hit: Tyler Reddick had done the impossible. No Richard Petty. No Dale Earnhardt. No Jeff Gordon. No Jimmie Johnson. No one in NASCAR’s storied history had ever won the first three races of a Cup Series season.

Michael Jordan’s reaction says it all

Post-race, Michael Jordan – decked out in team gear and beaming like a proud father – joined Reddick in Victory Lane. The six-time NBA champion, who has poured millions into 23XI Racing since its inception, didn’t hold back.

“It’s time for change. It’s time for change,” Jordan told Fox Sports, his voice thick with emotion. “No one has ever done it. Not since 1949. It happens today.”

Reddick, still catching his breath after the burnout that shook the Texas grandstands, was humble yet exhilarated.

“It’s weird to even comprehend,” he said. “To be the first… it’s surreal. The team gave me an incredible car all weekend. We executed perfectly.”

What this means for the rest of 2026

With three wins already under his belt before most drivers have even tasted victory, Reddick has vaulted to the top of the points standings and become the early favorite for the championship.

His dominance comes in an era where NASCAR has worked tirelessly to create parity through rules packages, next-gen cars, and tighter competition. Yet here is Reddick, rewriting the script.

Fans on social media exploded with reactions. “Richard Petty never did it. Dale Earnhardt never did it. Jeff Gordon never did it. Jimmie Johnson never did it. But only Tyler Reddick can say I’m the only driver in history to win the 1st 3 races,” one viral post read.

Others joked about the No. 45 car heading straight to inspection – a nod to the scrutiny that comes with such dominance.

But make no mistake: this is no fluke. Reddick, who entered 2026 with eight career wins, now has 11 – and he’s only getting started.

The road ahead: Can he keep the streak alive?

Next up is Phoenix, where Reddick will look to make it four in a row – a feat that would further cement his place in the pantheon.

The NASCAR world is watching, breathless. In a sport where anything can happen on any given Sunday, Tyler Reddick has made the impossible look routine.

From the high banks of Daytona to the superspeedway in Atlanta to the technical twists of COTA, he’s conquered them all.

And if the past three weeks are any indication, this might just be the beginning of something truly legendary.

Tyler Reddick isn’t just winning races. He’s making history – one checkered flag at a time.