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Tyler Reddick celebrates a victory
BACK TO GALLERIES

Analysis: Notable drivers to claim first win in third season

By Staff report | Published: 12 Dec, 2022 8
Logan Riely | Getty Images
BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 8

Tyler Reddick celebrates a victory

Logan Riely | Getty Images

Newly-signed 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick made the most of his final season driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in 2022. The native Californian struck gold for his first win this past year — adding another two along the way before the campaign wrapped — joining an elite group of drivers whose first victory came during Year 3 of their respective Cup Series careers (counting full-time seasons only). See which current (and potentially future) Hall of Famers have also accomplished the feat.

2 of 8

BRISTOL, TN - APRIL 6:  Rusty Wallace celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Valleydale 500 on April 20, 1986 in Bristol, Temmessee. Wallace would take home $34,760 for the race.  (Photo by Racing Photo Archives/Getty Images)

Racing Photo Archives | Getty Images

Rusty Wallace


Year 3: 1986

Age: 29

Wins: 2, at Bristol and Martinsville

Career: Wallace is the most decorated driver on this list, capping his career after the 2005 season with 55 wins. He was inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013.

3 of 8

PHOENIX, AZ — November 6, 1988:  Alan Kulwicki (C) in victory lane at Phoenix International Raceway after winning his first NASCAR Cup race, the Checker 500.  (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

Alan Kulwicki


Year 3: 1988

Age: 33

Wins: 1, at Phoenix Raceway

Career: Kulwicki would win four more races, including two in his storybook 1992 championship year before his death in an aviation crash in 1993. He was inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.

4 of 8

UNKNOWN — Late-1990s:  Bobby Labonte (R) drove Interstate Batteries-sponsored cars for owner Joe Gibbs (L) on the NASCAR Cup circuit from 1995 through 2005.  During that period, Labonte won 21 Cup races, and the Cup championship in 2000.  (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

Bobby Labonte


Year 3: 1995

Age: 31

Wins: 3, at Charlotte Motor Speedway and twice at Michigan

Career: Labonte made steady improvement after breaking through in 1995, culminating in the NASCAR Cup Series title in 2000. With 21 career wins, Labonte was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

5 of 8

BROOKLYN, MI - AUGUST 28:  Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 28, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan.  (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Kyle Larson


Year 3: 2016

Age: 23

Wins: 1, at Michigan

Career: Larson's one-win third year set the stage for a championship push in 2017, when he won four races and logged 15 top fives. He fell short that year, but turned in one of the finest seasons of this century in 2021 with 10 wins on the way to his first championship.

6 of 8

WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 05:  Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 5, 2018 in Watkins Glen, New York.  (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sarah Crabill | Getty Images

Chase Elliott


Year 3: 2018

Age: 23

Wins: 3, at Watkins Glen, Dover and Kansas

Career: Elliott won another three races in Year 4 (2019) and emerged even stronger in 2020, landing a career-high five victories while taking it all the way to his first Cup title. He added another seven wins and two Championship 4 appearances in 2021 and '22.

7 of 8

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta 'Color of the Year' Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Wiliam Byron


Year 3: 2020

Age: 22

Wins: 1, at Daytona

Career: Byron has steadily progressed upward throughout his Cup career, tacking on another win in 2021 before looking like a bona fide championship contender — and nearly making the Championship 4 — in 2022, finishing with a career best two wins and sixth-place standings result.

8 of 8

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN - JULY 03: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 3CHI Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Kwik Trip 250 at Road America on July 03, 2022 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Tyler Reddick


Year 3: 2022

Age: 26

Wins: 3, at Road America, Indianapolis Road Course and Texas

Career: Reddick's third season was just about as interesting and topsy-turvy as you could imagine, seeing him break through to show his true Cup Series talent — while simultaneously very publicly break up with the team he's taking to Victory Lane. The sky's the limit for Reddick, however, and he very well could top this number as he moves over to 23XI Racing for the '23 season.
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