Tyler Reddick battled through a barrage of gremlins inside his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota to claim victory in Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, edging out Brad Keselowski.
The event, held under the iconic “Lady in Black” amid the throwback vibes of Alumni Weekend, unfolded over 293 grueling laps on the unforgiving 1.366-mile oval, showcasing the track’s reputation as too tough to tame with its tight corners demanding precision.
As the green flag dropped at 3:12 PM ET under clear skies, Reddick rocketed into the lead from pole, with Bubba Wallace slotting second and Chase Elliott third in the early running through Turns 1 and 2.
By Lap 5, Reddick’s lead had ballooned to 1.4 seconds over Wallace with Kyle Larson pressuring from fourth and Keselowski climbing to fifth past Buescher, while the field strung out single-file behind them.
Reddick continued to dominate, leading 45 consecutive laps but trouble brewed when he hit a bump off Turn 2, triggering voltage drops and alternator failure that hinted at electrical demons lurking in his Toyota.
Stage 1 concluded at Lap 90 with Keselowski masterfully taking the win after inheriting the lead from Reddick, who settled for second despite his issues. Ryan Blaney charged to third, Wallace fourth and Larson fifth, while Elliott, Cindric, Suarez, Byron, and Buescher completed the top ten.
In the brief stoppage, Reddick’s team remedied the alternator failure with a battery change as repairs took longer than expected, sending the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota to the rear for Stage 2 restart—a brutal setback for the pole-sitter who had led most of the opening laps.
Stage 2, spanning 95 laps, saw Keselowski reclaim dominance from the jump, leading chunks of green-flag runs and sweeping to the stage win ahead of Chris Buescher in second, Larson third, Chase Briscoe fourth in the No. 19 JGR Toyota, and a recovering Tyler Reddick clawing back to fifth.
Ryan Preece impressed in sixth with the No. 60 RFK Ford, followed by Byron, Cindric, Ty Gibbs in the No. 54 JGR Toyota, and Suarez as Bubba Wallace suffered a slow pit stop, dropping outside the top ten.
Tyler Reddick’s championship mettle shone brightest in the final stage after his team fixed electrical issues, and the 30-year old began his charge from mid-pack, methodically picking off cars as his No. 45 found grip on fresh tires.
A yellow on Lap 197 for debris allowed for four-tire stops but the caution lifted at Lap 200 with Buescher briefly taking the top spot before Keselowski reclaimed control.
Yet, with under 30 laps remaining, Reddick orchestrated the race’s defining moment, diving low into Turn 2 on lap 266 after trailing Keselowski for 17 consecutive laps, his Toyota’s nose threading the needle in a move that echoed his pole-winning form.
From there, Reddick methodically stretched his lead to 3.605 seconds by lap 283, managing lapped traffic like a seasoned conductor while Keselowski pushed furiously but couldn’t reel in the gap, his tires fading on the ultra-abrasive track.
Reddick ultimately took the checkered flag 5.847 seconds ahead of Keselowski, marking his fourth win of the 2026 season and solidifying 23XI Racing’s momentum.
Ryan Blaney, meanwhile, rebounded from a loose wheel and a penalty for pitting in the wrong Team Penske stall to finish third, followed by Carson Hocevar who charged from 16th to fourth-place, while Austin Cindric completed the top five.
READ MORE:
Full 2026 NASCAR Cup Goodyear 400 at Darlington Race Results
New 2026 NASCAR Cup Series points standings after Darlington Goodyear 400
