DAYTONA 500: REDDICK TRIUMPHS IN LAST-LAP CHAOS
- Cavalieri Garage Magazine
- 24 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Tyler Reddick writes his name into the legend of the Daytona 500, surviving the chaos of the final lap and delivering the decisive move when it mattered most. The driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota captures the “Great American Race” for the first time in his career, earning his ninth NASCAR Cup Series victory after a grueling and unpredictable afternoon.
In a heart-stopping finish, the Californian built his win with a perfectly timed attack on Chase Elliott in the closing yards, showcasing precision and composure under maximum pressure. A victory that means twice as much, coming after a challenging and turbulent season.
A turbulent start and strategy plays its role
The early laps did not favor two-time defending winner William Byron. The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was caught up as early as Lap 6 after contact with BJ McLeod, who was in trouble exiting Turns 3 and 4. It was an immediate reminder of how unforgiving Daytona can be.
Kyle Busch (RCR Chevrolet No. 8), who started from the pole, controlled the opening phase of the race. However, the Las Vegas native gradually slipped back during Stage 1 as the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Chase Briscoe (No. 19), Ty Gibbs (No. 54), and Denny Hamlin (No. 11) surged forward.
With no cautions in the opening segment, strategy reshuffled the running order. Some teams managed to avoid an additional pit stop, allowing Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports Ford No. 38) to claim Stage 1 and the first points of 2026, beating the Team Penske Fords of Austin Cindric (No. 2) and Joey Logano (No. 22).
Crashes and the “Big One” that changed everything
The first major turning point of Stage 2 came with 115 laps remaining, right at the start-finish line. The incident eliminated key contenders including Briscoe and rookie Connor Zilisch (No. 88), while also damaging the cars of Austin Dillon, Ty Gibbs, and Corey Heim.
Kyle Busch later returned to the front during the second segment, joined by Kyle Larson (No. 5) and Ryan Blaney (No. 12), but the defining moment came with 76 laps to go.
The dreaded “Big One” erupted once again at the start-finish line.Contact between Justin Allgaier (No. 41) and Denny Hamlin triggered a massive pileup involving 17 cars, including Logano, Cindric, Larson, Shane van Gisbergen, Busch, Blaney, Byron, Ross Chastain, Gibbs, and Michael McDowell. It was a devastating blow that completely reset the competitive landscape.
The finish: chaos, bold moves, and glory
After the final round of pit stops — completed with fewer than 10 laps remaining — Bubba Wallace (No. 23) briefly controlled the race, but the pack remained tightly grouped. With eight laps to go, another collision knocked Christopher Bell (No. 20) out of contention after he was sent into the wall following a chain reaction involving Hamlin and Heim.
The final five laps were pure tension. Michael McDowell led the restart ahead of Reddick, Carson Hocevar (No. 77), and Byron, who had mounted an impressive comeback. The last lap saw multiple lead changes: Hocevar began it out front but was forced into the wall by Erik Jones (No. 43), an incident that also eliminated McDowell.
With no caution to freeze the field, the race was decided at full speed. Chase Elliott (No. 9) suddenly found himself leading, but Tyler Reddick delivered a masterpiece off Turn 4, sweeping past first Zane Smith and then the No. 9 Chevrolet.
The No. 45 crossed the finish line alone, surviving the chaos and owning the decisive moment.
Behind him, another crash shuffled the order and allowed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47) to secure second place ahead of Logano, Elliott, Brad Keselowski (No. 6), Smith, Chris Buescher (No. 17), and Riley Herbst (No. 35).
A historic triumph for 23XI Racing
Reddick’s win also marks the first Daytona 500 victory in the history of 23XI Racing, a milestone achievement for the team founded by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. The triumph comes shortly after the organization concluded its legal dispute with NASCAR over the charter system, a case pursued alongside Front Row Motorsports.
A powerful statement — both competitively and symbolically.
The 2026 season continues next week in Atlanta with the second of 36 scheduled events. Daytona will return to the spotlight in late summer for the traditional 400-mile race that closes out the regular season. But for now, the night belongs to Tyler Reddick.
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