Momentum swings smiled on several drivers after the NASCAR Cup Series’ first road-course race of the year Sunday, but none more than Tyler Reddick, who is now 3-for-3 in Victory Lane trips in this young season. Circuit of The Americas became the latest stop on his triumph tour as he held off road-race ace Shane van Gisbergen, and he’ll have a chance to extend his record in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Phoenix Raceway.
Other drivers had reason to savor satisfying results from the season’s first dose of road-course rambunctiousness. Here’s a glance at three drivers on the right side of momentum’s favor and three others seeking better days in the desert this weekend.
RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: COTA
THREE UP ⬆️
1. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 6th
Finished: 5th
What happened: McDowell marked his first top-five finish of the season, his first top five since the series’ most recent road-course run at the Charlotte Roval last season. The Spire veteran led five laps in the late going, and he was setting the pace when Reddick took command for the final time on the 76th of 95 laps.
What’s next: The result meant an 11-position leap up the order to ninth in the early Cup Series standings for McDowell, who heads to his hometown for this weekend’s race. He has three Phoenix top 10s in his last five Arizona outings.
2. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 5th
Finished: 7th
What happened: Elliott lamented an ill-handling No. 9 Chevrolet in Stage 1, telling crew chief Alan Gustafson, “we are in a lot of trouble” as he fought for grip. After an extended stop for adjustments, Elliott also found himself on pit road during the final caution period with 20 laps remaining after making his own call for a strategy opportunity. He posted his second top-10 finish in three races, slipping by old friend Ryan Blaney to take seventh place with a last-lap, last-turn pass.
What’s next: Elliott has finished 11th or better in all three events this year, a performance bar that puts him third in the standings behind 23XI Racing’s Reddick and Bubba Wallace. He’s heading to Phoenix, where he has a victory and a pole position at the site of his 2020 championship celebration.
3. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Started: 19th
Finished: 10th
What happened: It’s a slight righting of the ship for Hamlin, who grabbed his first top-10 finish of the season. The No. 11 team opted to stay out when others pitted during the final yellow flag, and Hamlin held on, battling through his lingering shoulder ailment at a road course with high demands on shifting and turning. “It’ll definitely be sore tomorrow,” Hamlin said post-race. “But first mistake-free road course for me in six years. It’s freaking amazing. It’s like a win. I’m telling you, this is a win.”
What’s next: Hamlin rose four spots to 23rd in the early Cup Series standings, and he’s heading to the site of his championship heartbreak from last season’s finale. But he’s also Phoenix-bound with plenty to be proud of on the team co-ownership side, with his 23XI team sweeping to three Reddick-led wins so far.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Started: 2nd
Finished: 35th
What happened: A roller-coaster of a day hampered Chastain, a former COTA winner. The 33-year-old vet started from the outside of the front row and secured a Stage 1 victory, but calamity struck with 20 laps left when he veered off course and his No. 1 Chevy returned to the track without its right-rear wheel. Chastain was held in the pits for two laps as a penalty.
What’s next: Chastain fell nine positions in the Cup Series standings to 20th, but he did salvage one extra point for turning the race’s fastest lap. He turns his attention to Phoenix, where he’s a former race winner in the 2023 season finale.
2. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Started: 3rd
Finished: 37th
What happened: Briscoe started with promise as he bolted past the front-row starters with a three-wide move on the initial green flag, then held the lead for the first eight laps. The potential unraveled, however, when the No. 19 Toyota’s transaxle failed, ending Briscoe’s race 33 laps early in last place.
What’s next: It’s been a feast-or-famine type of season in the early going — 36th at Daytona, second at Atlanta, 37th at COTA — and the standings reflect that with double-digit swings each week. Next up is Phoenix, the site of his first Cup Series victory back in 2022.
3. Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Started: 11th
Finished: 33rd
What happened: Like Briscoe, Smith was on the “up” side in this space a week ago, and even a week before that with a pair of top-10 outcomes to start the year. Sunday at COTA was an adventure, as Smith continued after contact with Erik Jones and Carson Hocevar exiting Turn 1 on Lap 52, then went spinning in the same corner 27 laps later with rookie Connor Zilisch.
What’s next: Smith tumbled nine spots to 14th in the Cup Series standings, but has some positives to lean on at Phoenix. The Front Row Motorsports driver was ninth at Phoenix last March, and he’s won at the 1-mile track in Craftsman Truck Series competition.
