Tyler Reddick delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, stealing the victory in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway with a breathtaking overtime pass on Kyle Larson.

In a race filled with dominant performances, late-race chaos, and strategy gambles, it was Reddick who emerged on top — overcoming adversity, mechanical concerns, and heavy contact in the closing laps to secure his fifth win of the season.

A Race That Didn’t Look Like Reddick’s to Win
For much of the afternoon, the spotlight belonged to Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson.

Hamlin dominated early, leading 75 of the first 80 laps and winning Stage 1. His No. 11 car showed elite long-run speed and appeared to be the class of the field.

Larson took over in Stage 2, showcasing his trademark ability to run multiple grooves and maintain speed through traffic. He led 78 laps and looked poised to control the race down the stretch.

Reddick, meanwhile, stayed in the mix — consistently running inside the top five, but never fully taking control of the race.

Late Caution Changes Everything
With Hamlin back in front late, it looked like the race might end under green. But everything changed on Lap 266 when Cody Ware spun, bringing out a crucial caution.

That yellow flag forced teams into a split-second decision on pit road.

The leaders — including Hamlin, Larson, Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace — all opted for right-side tires only, prioritizing track position over fresh rubber.

That decision set up a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish.

Overtime Chaos and Contact
On the restart, Kyle Larson made the first aggressive move, diving underneath Hamlin to take the lead heading into Turn 1.

Behind him, things got messy.

Reddick made contact with Christopher Bell while fighting for position, sending Bell into the outside wall and effectively ending his chances at a win after a strong performance.

At that moment, Larson appeared to have the race in hand.

Reddick’s Final Charge
But Kansas Speedway had one more twist left.

Reddick, who had already scraped the wall earlier and even experienced a brief fuel system issue in the closing laps, found a massive run on the high side.

As Larson’s car tightened up entering the final corners, Reddick pounced.

He dove low, cleared Larson off Turn 4, and surged ahead to take the checkered flag by just 0.118 seconds — completing an improbable comeback victory.

​Top Finishers
1st: Tyler Reddick
2nd: Kyle Larson
3rd: Chase Briscoe
4th: Denny Hamlin
5th: Bubba Wallace

Notable Performances:
Denny Hamlin: Led race-high 131 laps
Kyle Larson: 78 laps led, Stage 2 winner
Christopher Bell: 47 laps led, finished 20th after late incident

Stage Results

Stage 1 Top 5:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kyle Larson
3. Tyler Reddick
4. Ty Gibbs
5. Christopher Bell

Stage 2 Top 5:
1. Kyle Larson
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Tyler Reddick
4. Chase Elliott
5. Christopher Bell

By the Numbers

What This Win Means
This wasn’t just another win for Tyler Reddick — it was a statement.

With five victories in the first nine races of the season, Reddick is putting together one of the most dominant starts in modern NASCAR history. He now holds a commanding lead in the standings and has firmly established himself as the driver to beat in 2026.

More importantly, this win showed resilience.

​Reddick overcame:

And still found a way to win.

Championship teams win races like this.

Final Takeaway
Kansas wasn’t supposed to be Reddick’s race.

Hamlin controlled it. Larson nearly stole it. Bell was right there.

But when it mattered most, Reddick executed — and that’s becoming a dangerous trend for the rest of the Cup Series garage.

If this pace continues, we’re not just watching a hot streak…

​We’re watching a championship-caliber season unfold in real time.

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