The DuraMAX Grand Prix meant the first road course of the season. (Photo Credit: NASCAR at COTA | X)

DuraMAX Grand Prix

Tyler Reddick won the first two races of the season and then went on to win the pole for the DuraMAX Grand Prix.

Stage 1

Unfortunately for the 23XI Racing driver looking to go three-in-a-row, he quickly fell back while Chase Briscoe took the lead.

As Lap 7 came to a close, Ryan Blaney was on Briscoe’s tail, and the two had a two-second buffer on the field. One lap later, Blaney secured the lead and set sail. Green flag stops started with four laps to go in the stage, while Blaney had a commanding six-second lead. Eventually, he gave up his lead to Ross Chastain to pit for fresh tires with two to go. Chastain held his lead and claimed the stage win.

Stage 2

To start the second stage, Reddick and William Byron led the field to green. A spin by Connor Zilisch in Turn 1 shook up the running order, and Reddick resumed the lead.

Once again, late-stage, green-flag pit stops mixed up the leaderboard and allowed Ty Gibbs to secure the stage win.

There were also numerous reports of drivers having issues with their cool suits on the first hot race of the season.

Stage 3

Reddick jumped back to the lead, but on Lap 55, Blaney was back, battling for the lead. While they battled, Briscoe went to the garage with a transaxle issue.

With 21 to go, the first, and only, caution for an incident waved when Chastain lost a wheel.

A huge stack-up in Turn 1 shook up the field and allowed Shane van Gisbergen to enter his name in the Blaney-Reddick fight.

After Reddick took the white flag, Hocevar spun on the frontstretch, but the race stayed green.

In a historical move, Reddick claimed the win and secured the three-peat with a nearly four-second lead on the field.

(Photo Credit: Xfinity Racing | X)

Rich MARvelous Move of the Race

A relatively calm DuraMAX Grand Prix allowed NASCAR fans to see drivers tackle this technical course without a lot of drama.

While Reddick’s win certainly turned heads, it was a story from pit road that caught our eye.

During the Lap 75 caution, when Chastain lost a wheel, the cameras focused on pit road.

There, viewers saw Myatt Snider go from pit spotter for Jamie Little to NASCAR Cup Series driver. Alex Bowman felt sick and needed to head to the infield care center.

In his place, Snider threw on his firesuit and climbed into the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports machine.

Bowman had been running five laps down, and Snider’s job was to bring it home, and that he did.

Kudos to Snider for being prepared for whatever the day might call for!

Prior to publishing, NASCAR shared that Bowman had been checked and released from the infield care center. No other details were available at that time, nor was he available for comment.

We want to extend a huge thank you to Rich Mar Florist for their continued sponsorship of the Rich MARvelous Move of the Race into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Make sure to give them a follow across social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) to stay up-to-date with all the Team Rich Mar NASCAR happenings! And check out their website for all your floral needs, no matter where you are located!