Reddick Leads NASCAR Road Race, Pursues Cup Series History Against SVG
AUSTIN, Texas — The NASCAR road race at the Circuit of the Americas is set to showcase a thrilling competition, with Tyler Reddick aiming to make history. Reddick secured the pole position for the highly anticipated race on Sunday. After winning the prestigious Daytona 500, he hopes to become the first driver to win the season’s first three races.
Reddick’s Historic Pursuit
Reddick’s previous victory at COTA in 2023, which went into triple overtime, added to his confidence. That win marked his first with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team. “Starting up front is huge,” Reddick stated, acknowledging the importance of pole position.
Battle Against SVG
Shane van Gisbergen, known for his exceptional prowess on road courses, won five out of six races last season. However, he will start Sunday’s race from 13th position. Van Gisbergen is targeting his sixth consecutive road course victory, which would tie the record held by Jeff Gordon. Reddick is determined to get a lead and maintain it throughout the race, despite van Gisbergen’s renowned skills.
Connor Zilisch: A Rising Contender
- Connor Zilisch, Reddick’s rookie teammate, will start from 25th position.
- He had an impressive performance during his debut at COTA last year before a late accident ended his race.
- Zilisch has a track record of success, winning four road course races in the second-tier O’Reilly series last season.
Van Gisbergen praised Zilisch’s talent. “With Connor, it’s exciting. He’s a pretty cool talent coming into this level now,” he noted. Zilisch believes he can compete with van Gisbergen but acknowledges that maintaining consistency is crucial for success.
Health Status of Brad Keselowski
On another front, driver Brad Keselowski continues to recover from a broken right leg. He participated in previous races but noted that the physical demands of road courses are different. Keselowski has sports-car driver Joey Hand as a backup, should he need to step down during the race.
