Daytona 500 Winner Tyler Reddick On Pole After Rain Wipes Out Atlanta Qualifying
#NASCAR#Daytona 500#Tyler Reddick#Autotrader 400#Qualifying#Rain#Pole Position#Atlanta Motor Speedway
📌 Key Takeaways
Tyler Reddick awarded pole position after rain washes out qualifying
Starting order determined by NASCAR performance metric combining race finish and owner points
Drivers will take first laps during the actual race instead of practice
Favorable weather conditions expected for Sunday's race
📖 Full Retelling
Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick was awarded the pole position for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Ga. on Sunday, February 23, 2026, after rain washed out NASCAR Cup Series qualifying. When qualifying cannot be held, NASCAR sets the starting order using a performance metric that combines 70% of the driver's finish from the previous race and 30% of the car's owner point standings. Reddick secured the top spot due to his victory at Daytona and current standings lead, while Joey Logano, who finished third in the Daytona 500, will start second in the race. The rain-out means drivers will take their first laps on the Atlanta track during the actual race on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, which will be broadcast on FOX and the FOX Sports app. NASCAR typically avoids practice on drafting tracks following the Daytona 500 because the risk of crashes outweighs the potential knowledge gained from such sessions. This gives Reddick a welcome break after his Daytona 500 victory, which came with several days of media obligations. 'There's a number of things that have been out of sorts, if you will, but for the most part, it was a normal week on the prep side,' Reddick said regarding his preparation for the Autotrader 400. 'So I think I'll be good.' FOX Weather predicts favorable racing conditions for Sunday, with cool temperatures in the 40s and no chance of rain, ensuring the race will proceed as scheduled without further weather complications.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top-ranked motorsports organizations in the world and is one of the largest spectator sports league...
Tyler George Reddick (born January 11, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing.
Pole Position is a 1982 racing video game developed and published by Namco for arcades. It was licensed to Atari, Inc. for US manufacture and distribution.
Rain is a form of precipitation where water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor fall by gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water for hydroelectric power plants, crop irrigatio...
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
Tyler Reddick earning the pole for the Autotrader 400 after rain wiped out qualifying gives him a strategic advantage and builds on his recent Daytona 500 win, highlighting how weather can reshape race dynamics.
What Happens Next
The race will start at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, with Reddick leading the field. Teams will rely on their Daytona 500 experience and the metric-based lineup to navigate the early laps, while weather forecasts predict cool temperatures and no rain.
Original Source
- No Data Available - BROWSE BY SPORTS & TEAMS PLAYERS SHOWS PERSONALITIES TOPICS Built on NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Winner Tyler Reddick On Pole After Rain Wipes Out Atlanta Qualifying Published Feb. 21, 2026 2:45 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider EchoPark Speedway (Hampton, Ga.) — Rain washed out NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, putting Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick on the pole for the Autotrader 400 on Sunday. When qualifying is not held, the starting order is set by the NASCAR performance metric — 70 percent the finish from the previous race and 30 percent of the car's owner point standings. Reddick had the best score (he finished first at Daytona and leads the standings), so he starts on the pole. Joey Logano , who finished third in the Daytona 500, starts second. With qualifying rained out, the first laps drivers take at Atlanta will be in the race on Sunday afternoon ( 3 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app ). They do not practice on the drafting tracks after the Daytona 500 because of the risk for the teams of a crash, while practice in drafting can outweigh the knowledge gained by the practice. Reddick probably liked the fact that he had a day without a lot of responsibilities after a few days of media as the Daytona 500 winner . "There's a number of things that have been out of sorts, if you will, but for the most part, it was a normal week on the prep side," Reddick said. "So I think I'll be good." The FOX Weather forecast for Sunday is for cool temperatures in the 40s with no chance of rain.
