Tyler Reddick made NASCAR history this past weekend by becoming the first driver to win the first three races of the Cup Series season, yet the spotlight shifted elsewhere when the latest episode of SPEED With Harvick And Buxton named its top drivers of the week. Despite his unmatched performance at the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix, Reddick’s NASCAR winning streak was overlooked by the show’s experts in favor of athletes from other racing series.
Reddick’s Historic Start to the NASCAR Season
This season’s opening has seen Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota dominate. His victory at Circuit of The Americas on Sunday capped a third consecutive first-place finish, marking a new record for the NASCAR Cup Series. Reddick’s control on the track was clear as he led an impressive 58 of 95 laps at the Grand Prix. However, his historic run did not secure him a nod as the standout driver of the week from either Kevin Harvick or Will Buxton on SPEED With Harvick And Buxton.
Experts Recognize Other Standouts in the Racing World
Kevin Harvick surprised many by selecting Eli Tomac, who claimed his eighth career win at Daytona International Speedway during Saturday’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship event. Harvick noted Tomac’s consistency and achievements at one of the sport’s most celebrated venues.
“We’re going to make somebody mad this week because we had so many great performances, but I chose Eli Tomac,”
Harvick said. Harvick cited Tomac’s record at Daytona and added,
“They’re all spectacular this week with what they’ve done. I didn’t want to feel too biased, either. So, I wanted to be open-minded about the perspective. Eight wins at Daytona is pretty phenomenal.”
Meanwhile, Will Buxton went in a different direction, focusing on the INDYCAR opener. He selected Alex Palou as his standout, following Palou’s commanding victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Buxton praised the four-time champion’s remarkable race management and strategic skill on the track.
“Outstanding start to the season for the four-time champion who has raised his level again,”
Buxton explained. He emphasized Palou’s intelligence in conserving fuel and making key moves during the race:
“It wasn’t just that he won, it was how he won. It was the intelligence, the race brain and the ability to conserve fuel in the opening stint so that he didn’t just make a better fuel number than his rivals, but that he was able to push on the laps he was able to outstay his rivals on the track.”
Palou led a majority of the laps during Sunday’s race, ultimately winning by more than 12 seconds, underscoring his dominance early in the season. Buxton predicted a tougher season ahead for Palou’s competitors, saying,
“Everyone who thought they had a chance this year, they’ve got to redouble, again.”
Fans Rally in Favor of Tyler Reddick
Although Reddick was not chosen by the show’s experts, NASCAR fans made their voices heard through the show’s viewer poll. Reddick captured 71% of the fan vote for driver of the week, a resounding show of support for his achievements. Second place in the fan poll went to fellow NASCAR driver Shane van Ginsbergen with 12% after his strong finish at COTA. Alex Palou received 10%, while Eli Tomac rounded out the top contenders with 7% of the vote.
Reddick’s exclusion from the experts’ picks has sparked discussion within the motorsports community about how standout performances are recognized, especially as he continues an unprecedented streak. With NASCAR’s new season already delivering dramatic results, attention now turns to whether Reddick can extend his winning run and claim the recognition his historic achievements merit across all corners of motorsports.
