Tyler Reddick’s 2026 season has opened as perfect as he would want it to, and Saturday at Circuit of The Americas only added to the momentum.
Fresh off victories in the Daytona 500 and last week’s AutoTrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway, Reddick powered to the pole for Sunday’s Duramax Grand Prix at COTA.
It is the latest statement in what is quickly becoming one of the most impressive starts to a season in recent memory.
The speed has followed him everywhere, and now on a technical road course that statistically stands as his best track on the calendar, Reddick looks every bit like the driver to beat again.
If there was any question about whether the early success would carry into a completely different discipline, qualifying answered it.
But Ross Chastain came closest.
Chastain appeared poised to steal the pole, laying down a lap that was tracking ahead of Reddick’s time before a late wheel lock-up sent the opportunity sliding away.
The mistake cost him just enough, and he’ll roll off second on Sunday, left to wonder what might have been.
For Reddick, though, the picture is clear. COTA has long been one of his strongest tracks, a place where he won in 2024.
Add that to the confidence of two straight wins to open the year, and he arrives at Sunday’s race carrying both statistical advantage and emotional momentum.
Interestingly, the driver many circled as the pre-race favorite did not dominate qualifying.
Shane Van Gisbergen, widely regarded as the best road course racers in the field and an easy pick by many to win, seemed to lack just a bit of outright speed in time trials.
He qualified 13th, leaving himself work to do in the early stages of the race.
That doesn’t remove him from contention by any means though.
At COTA, strategy, tire management and even some late-race restarts often matter as much as raw qualifying speed.
But the contrast is notable. While others search for the perfect balance, Reddick appears to have found it already.
Three races. Two wins. A pole at his best track.
The season is young, but the message is growing louder each week.
If someone wants to stop Tyler Reddick, they are going to have to take it from him.
