{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Tyler Reddick Interview After Winning at COTA | VICTORY LAP","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/tyler-reddick-interview-after-winning-at-cota-victory-lap","audioUrl":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/FOXM3437105212.mp3","description":"Fresh off his victory at Circuit of the Americas, Tyler Reddick joins Kevin Harvick on this week’s Victory Lap to break down his historic third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win to open the 2026 season. Reddick discusses how he and 23XI Racing have built early-season momentum, what has clicked across the organization, and how the team has elevated its performance to championship level. He details his intense battle with road course standout Shane van Gisbergen at COTA, the strategy and execution that helped him secure the win, and what it means to become the first Cup driver to win the first three races of a season. Reddick also reflects on his viral 3-peat photo tribute to team owner Michael Jordan, the confidence inside the garage, and how this dominant start shapes expectations for the rest of the year.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices"},"annotations":[{"startTime":186.8,"endTime":189.2,"type":"term","title":"SMT","url":"/glossary/smt","quote":"\"With, with SMT and everything, you're able to go back and see all that.\"","canonicalId":"term:smt","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"SMT stands for Spotter-Mounted Television, a technology used in racing to review footage and telemetry data to analyze performance and strategy.","simplifiedExplanation":"SMT is a tool that lets drivers and teams watch video and data from races to see how they did and plan better moves next time."}},{"startTime":193.5,"endTime":200.0,"type":"concept","title":"defensive driving","url":"/glossary/defensive-driving","quote":"\"...it was great for lap time, but it ended up being really great defensively too. You know, they could kind of roll to my back bumper...\"","canonicalId":"concept:defensive-driving","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Defensive driving in racing refers to techniques used by a driver to prevent opponents from overtaking, often by positioning the car strategically on the track.","simplifiedExplanation":"Defensive driving means driving in a way that stops other racers from passing you by blocking or slowing them down."}},{"startTime":325.4,"endTime":331.7,"type":"term","title":"downforce","url":"/glossary/downforce","quote":"it was more about just going really hard every lap. Um, and as, as we've taken downforce off the car, as the tires gotten softer,","canonicalId":"term:downforce","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Downforce is the aerodynamic force that pushes a car down onto the track, increasing tire grip and improving cornering speeds. It is generated by wings, spoilers, and body shapes designed to manipulate airflow.","simplifiedExplanation":"Downforce is like a force that pushes the car down to the road so it sticks better when turning fast. It helps the car go around corners without sliding."}},{"startTime":331.7,"endTime":338.4,"type":"term","title":"soft tires","url":"/glossary/soft-tires","quote":"and as the tires gotten softer, um, as we've added horsepower, you know, what it takes, I think","canonicalId":"term:soft-tires","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Soft tires refer to racing tires made from a softer rubber compound that provides better grip but wears out faster. They improve lap times by increasing traction but require more frequent replacement.","simplifiedExplanation":"Soft tires are special tires that help the car stick to the road better, but they wear out quicker and need to be changed more often."}},{"startTime":331.7,"endTime":338.4,"type":"term","title":"horsepower","url":"/glossary/horsepower","quote":"and as the tires gotten softer, um, as we've added horsepower, you know, what it takes, I think","canonicalId":"term:horsepower","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Horsepower is a unit of measurement for engine power, indicating how much work an engine can perform over time. More horsepower generally means a car can accelerate faster and reach higher speeds.","simplifiedExplanation":"Horsepower is how strong the car's engine is. The more horsepower, the faster the car can go and the quicker it can speed up."}},{"startTime":338.4,"endTime":362.6,"type":"concept","title":"race car setup evolution","url":"/glossary/race-car-setup-evolution","quote":"what it did in the car to win in 2023 and then in 2026 were very different. So I wish I could say what it is, but, um, I think it's just, we've, we've done a really good job of bringing what, what needs to be had in a race car, um, two times now when we've been able to get the job done.","canonicalId":"concept:race-car-setup-evolution","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Race car setup evolution refers to how teams change the car's configuration, including aerodynamics, tires, and power, over time to improve performance as conditions and regulations change.","simplifiedExplanation":"Race car setup evolution means changing parts of the race car over time to make it faster and better for different races."}},{"startTime":387.4,"endTime":390.0,"type":"term","title":"burnout","url":"/glossary/burnouts","quote":"\"when, when you're winning a lot like this multiple weeks in a row, do you think about the burnout and what you can do from the week before...\"","canonicalId":"term:burnouts","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A burnout is a driving maneuver where the driver spins the wheels of a stationary car to heat up the tires, improving traction for the start of a race.","simplifiedExplanation":"A burnout is when a car spins its tires while staying still to make the tires hot and sticky for better grip when racing."}},{"startTime":408.3,"endTime":410.0,"type":"term","title":"DNF","url":"/glossary/dnf","quote":"\"with this format, DNFs are going to be a killer. And so, um, I was reminded...\"","canonicalId":"term:dnf","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"DNF stands for 'Did Not Finish,' a term used in racing to indicate a competitor who fails to complete the race, often due to mechanical failure or accidents.","simplifiedExplanation":"DNF means a racer didn't finish the race because something went wrong, like the car breaking down or crashing."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"FOX Sports","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/tyler-reddick-interview-after-winning-at-cota-victory-lap/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}