Reddick Equals Earnhardt’s Early‑Season Mark With Win No. 5

Tyler Reddick delivered one of the defining performances of the 2026 season Sunday at Kansas Speedway, winning the AdventHealth 400 and becoming the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win five of the first nine races. The driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry now holds a commanding points lead and continues to set the pace for the rest of the field.

He has led more than 600 laps through nine events, the highest total of his Cup career. His average finish sits at 4.8, a number that reflects how complete this stretch has been. Reddick acknowledged the significance of matching Earnhardt’s early‑season mark but immediately credited the people around him.

He pointed to the road crew, the engineering group, and the staff at 23XI Racing’s Airspeed facility for giving him a car capable of controlling races. He said the team has executed at a level he has never experienced. He also noted that avoiding mechanical issues has been a major factor in their consistency.

Hamlin’s Lost Win And The Caution That Flipped The Race

The race turned in the final miles when Denny Hamlin appeared to have the win secured. Hamlin had led 76 laps and was pulling away when Cody Ware, running six laps down, cut a tire and spun, bringing out the seventh caution of the afternoon.

The yellow erased Hamlin’s advantage and forced the field into a green‑white‑checkered finish. It was the second straight year a late caution changed the outcome at Kansas. Hamlin said afterward that he saw the moment unfolding before the caution even flew.

Hamlin didn’t hide his frustration. He said Ware’s spin “ruined our day” and acknowledged that the restart was going to be a fight no matter what. Data suggested the bottom lane was the safer choice, but Hamlin trusted his instinct and took the top with Kyle Larson lined up behind him.

He said he made the call based on how his car launched earlier in the race. He also admitted Larson’s presence influenced the decision more than he wanted to admit. He knew the choice could make or break the finish, but he trusted his feel for the moment. In the end, he said he’d rather lose on instinct than second‑guess himself later.

Larson’s Move, Reddick’s Counterpunch

The restart immediately reshaped the race. Larson made an aggressive three‑wide move to the bottom, cleared both lanes, and took control entering Turn 1. He had already led 40 laps and had one of the fastest cars on long runs. The move resembled the one he used to win at Kansas in 2021.

But Larson overextended the No. 5 Chevrolet into Turn 3. The car pushed up the track, forcing him off the throttle, and Reddick closed quickly. Larson said afterward that he simply “missed it” and couldn’t hold the line. His team was surprised by the tight condition, as the car had been stable in that corner all afternoon.

Reddick’s path wasn’t clean. When the restart began, his car tightened unexpectedly, and he slid into the side of teammate Christopher Bell, sending Bell into the wall. Bell had been running inside the top 10 for most of the race before the contact. The incident dropped him to 29th and ended what could have been a season‑best day.

Once he gathered the car, Reddick reset and chased down Larson. On the final lap, he dove to the inside entering Turn 3, cleared the No. 5, and sealed the win coming off Turn 4. It marked his third last‑lap pass for the win in his Cup career. It also gave Toyota its fourth victory of the season.

Jordan Watches A Statement Win

23XI Racing co‑owner Michael Jordan was on pit road for the finish, and the celebration reflected the magnitude of the moment. Jordan praised Reddick’s composure and speed, saying the driver is “on fire” and joking that he wasn’t sure anyone could cool him off.

Jordan has now attended three Cup races in person since 2021, and 23XI has won two of them. His presence continues to draw national attention to the team’s growth. Jordan also pointed to the organization’s overall strength.

All four 23XI entries finished inside the top 15, reinforcing the team’s growing reputation as one of the fastest groups in the garage. Reddick said having Jordan at the track adds energy and urgency when he’s there. The team wants to deliver.

The group’s average finish at Kansas was 9.8, its best combined result of the season. Jordan said afterward that the team is “building something real” and that the results speak for themselves. The organization left Kansas feeling like its overall program had taken another clear step forward.

A Quote That Captures The Moment

Placed at the center of the day in Kansas and inarguably the season, Reddick’s reaction to matching Earnhardt’s historic start. The comment summed up both the weight of the achievement and the humility behind it.

“Earnhardt is on the Mount Rushmore of this sport. To do something he did means a lot, but it’s because of the group behind me,” Reddick said of the historic win.

The quote resonated across the garage because it reflected how Reddick views this run. He has been quick to credit the people around him rather than the numbers themselves. It also underscored how unified the No. 45 team has been since the season began.

What The Win Means For The Championship Picture

Reddick’s fifth win gives him a 105‑point lead over Ryan Blaney in the standings. Through nine races, he has won 56 percent of the events, a level of early‑season control rarely seen in the modern era. He also leads the series in stage wins with six.

His 14 playoff points already exceed his total from the entire 2025 regular season. The advantage gives crew chief Billy Scott and the No. 45 team enormous flexibility. With such a large points cushion, they can take aggressive strategy swings without worrying about the consequences of a bad finish.

Scott mentioned the team would experiment more than usual over the next month. He also noted that they plan to test multiple aero packages during the upcoming intermediate‑track races. For the rest of the field, the message is clear.

Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske are all chasing 23XI Racing at the moment. Several crew chiefs admitted after the race that they’re studying 23XI’s setups closely. The gap in raw pace has become a weekly storyline inside the garage.

A Performance That Will Long Be Remembered

Reddick’s Kansas win checked every box: he beat his team owner in qualifying, survived a chaotic restart, made contact with a teammate, ran down one of the best closers in the sport, and matched a statistic that had stood untouched since Earnhardt’s 1987 season. It was also his second career win at Kansas.

The track has quietly become one of his strongest venues, with four top‑five finishes in his last six starts there. He did it with Jordan watching from the pit box and with a car that continues to set the standard for the rest of the garage. Through nine races, the No. 45 team has established itself as the group everyone else must catch.

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