The NASCAR Cup Series arrives at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400 with teams preparing for the first true high-speed intermediate track of the 2026 season. Tyler Reddick enters the weekend with cautious confidence after showing early speed with 23XI Racing.
The race marks an important test for teams as they begin to evaluate their mile-and-a-half track programs. Las Vegas often serves as an early benchmark for performance on similar tracks later in the season.
For Reddick and the No. 45 team, the focus is on turning raw speed into a complete race package. While the team showed promise during last year’s spring race at Las Vegas, handling issues prevented them from fully capitalizing on their pace.
Tyler Reddick Reflects on Last Year’s Las Vegas Race
Reddick said the No. 45 team showed strong speed during the spring race at Las Vegas last season but struggled with the car’s balance during the event. The handling problems limited their ability to convert pace into a stronger result.
“I think like spring in Vegas last year [we] had speed. We didn’t have the handling we wanted. Really, the only mile and a half we really struggled with last year was campus one. That was really a big head scratcher for us.”
The comments highlight the team’s focus on improving its intermediate-track package. Las Vegas provides a clear opportunity to see whether those adjustments have made a difference early in the 2026 season.
Intermediate Tracks Remain a Key Part of the Schedule
Intermediate tracks play a major role in the NASCAR Cup Series calendar. Races at venues such as Kansas Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway share several similarities with Las Vegas.
Reddick said last season’s results at these tracks gave the team confidence despite the issues in one race.
“So aside from that one race, it seemed like a mile-and-a-half program had been pretty close to where we expected to be. So yeah, for us, on our last trip here, we thought we were very solid. We just didn’t have the best last race start in that race.”
Teams often use the Las Vegas race as an early indicator of how their setups will perform later in the year. A strong showing can signal competitiveness across several upcoming races on similar layouts.
Strong Starting Position for 23XI Racing
Reddick will start seventh for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400, placing him in the middle of a competitive field. Christopher Bell secured the pole position for Joe Gibbs Racing, while Bubba Wallace will start fourth. The starting lineup features two 23XI Racing cars in the top 10.
The race is scheduled for 267 laps, covering 400.5 miles around the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval. Stage lengths are set at 80 laps, 85 laps, and a final 102-lap run to the checkered flag.
For Reddick and the No. 45 team, the race offers a clear early-season test. If the team can manage the handling balance that limited them last spring, Las Vegas could provide an important benchmark for the rest of their 2026 intermediate-track schedule.
Tyler Reddick Admits One Issue Ruined 23XI Racing’s Las Vegas Speed