Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Tyler Reddick wins at Phoenix and cuts championship deficit
Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix on Sunday, his first victory since April.
He drives the No.
45 for 23XI Racing, which had gone six months without a win.
The victory came after a two-tire pit stop and a late restart helped Reddick take the lead with 18 laps remaining.
Kyle Larson retired after a tire failure, finishing 34th, while Denny Hamlin also had a difficult race.
The points gap between Reddick and the championship lead fell from 114 to either 54 or 56 points; the accounts differ slightly.
Three races remain: Talladega, Martinsville and Homestead-Miami, so Reddick still has a chance to contend for the title.
He says the team will focus on strong results in each race, starting at Talladega.
Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, earning his sixth victory of the season.
The win cut Reddick’s championship deficit, though sources differ on whether it fell to 54 or 56 points.
Kyle Larson finished 34th after a tire failure ended his race, leaving him five points ahead of Christopher Bell in the standings.
Denny Hamlin also had a difficult race, finishing 28th after a tire problem and a pit-road speeding penalty.
Three races remain in the championship chase, beginning with Talladega.
- Who
- Tyler Reddick won the race. Kyle Larson and other playoff contenders were also affected.
- What
- Reddick won at Phoenix and reduced his championship deficit. Sources report the deficit as either 54 or 56 points.
- When
- Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
- Why
- Reddick’s win and poor results for championship leaders, including Larson’s DNF, changed the standings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Reddick overtook Chase Briscoe with 17 laps remaining and held on to win at Phoenix.
Larson’s tire failure ended his race, and he finished 34th.
The playoff field is due to race at Talladega.
Three races remained in the championship chase.
- Winner
- Tyler Reddick
- Team and car
- 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota
- Race venue
- Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
- Reddick’s season wins
- Six
- Larson’s finish
- 34th
- Championship deficit
- 54 points according to Speedcafe; 56 points according to Motorsport.com and ESPN
11 sources
Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons
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Tyler Reddick wins in Phoenix as Kyle Larson fails to finish
What people are saying
This group never lost motivation, never lost the drive to keep searching and keep trying to find ways to make ourselves better, just be an all-around better team
I was just trying to salvage anything -- in the top 20 would have been great
It's going to be a battle, that's for sure