Tyler Reddick will start at the front for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, as he seeks to make history as the first driver to win the first three Cup Series races of the season. With the spotlight on the Tyler Reddick Cup Series history chase, this year’s road course opener promises an electrifying battle involving Reddick, road-course specialist Shane van Gisbergen, and promising rookie Connor Zilisch.
Reddick’s Bid for a Legendary Start
After victories at the Daytona 500 and last weekend’s event in Atlanta, Tyler Reddick has put himself in position to accomplish something never seen in Cup Series history: capturing the first three races of the season. He locked in the pole for Sunday’s race at COTA, building confidence after his dramatic triple-overtime win at the same track in 2023—his first with the Michael Jordan-backed 23XI Racing team. Reddick’s familiarity with this challenging circuit and the momentum from his recent performances make him a prime contender.
Reflecting on the significance of his pole position, Reddick emphasized the importance of a strong start.
“It helps the chances certainly, Starting up front is huge.”
— Tyler Reddick, Driver. However, Reddick remains aware that conquering the entire 95-lap race requires more than early speed, especially when facing van Gisbergen’s road-course prowess.
The Van Gisbergen and Zilisch Factor
Shane van Gisbergen, who claimed five of six road course events last season, enters Sunday’s race with the chance to tie Jeff Gordon’s record for consecutive road course wins, having racked up five straight. Ironically, COTA is one venue where van Gisbergen did not win in 2023, and after a disappointing qualifying session, he will begin the race from 13th position. Nonetheless, he remains a significant threat.
Van Gisbergen’s Trackhouse Racing teammate, 19-year-old Connor Zilisch, will start from 25th after a tough session but is expected to contend for victory based on his rapid rise in NASCAR’s feeder series. Zilisch made a memorable Cup debut at COTA last year, tearing through the field until a late-race incident took him out of contention. His prior battles with van Gisbergen in the O’Reilly series saw victories for both, including Zilisch’s pole in Saturday’s support race.
Discussing his young teammate, van Gisbergen remarked,
“With Connor, it’s exciting. (He’s) a pretty cool talent coming into this level now, in the same equipment,”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Driver. Zilisch, reflecting on his own growth and challenges in racing against top competition, offered,
“I feel like I’ve been able to run with him in those,”
and elaborated,
“I feel like personally I can do it. But putting an entire race together, being consistent and not making mistakes … I feel like I have the speed to do, it but I feel like I have to run a perfect race to be able to beat him. I think everybody’s realized how difficult that is.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver.
Keselowski Faces Physical Test at Austin
Brad Keselowski, continuing his comeback after sustaining a broken right leg, is expected to brave the full race distance at COTA, having already competed at Daytona and Atlanta. However, the unique demands of a road course will test his recovery further. Keselowski has Joey Hand, a renowned sports-car specialist, on standby if he requires relief during the event.
Keselowski shared his mindset about racing through adversity, stating,
“It’s going to take a lot for that to happen,”
and reaffirmed,
“I’ll have to be either really slow, or really in pain … I’m a race car driver, that’s what I do.”
— Brad Keselowski, Driver.
What to Watch for in the Race
Despite starting mid-pack, van Gisbergen remains the favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, while Zilisch’s aggressive style and Reddick’s blistering pace are expected to fuel a dramatic fight for the win. The race also marks the introduction of a horsepower increase for road courses—from 670 to 750 horsepower—aimed at encouraging more overtaking, a change many drivers believe will add to the excitement at this challenging Texas circuit.
As anticipation builds, the narrative revolves around whether Reddick can deliver a historic third consecutive triumph in this highly competitive Cup Series season. If successful, it would further cement his legacy and shake up NASCAR’s record books, especially as the field faces renewed challenges from rising stars and established champions alike at the storied Circuit of the Americas.
