Toyota officially secured the championship during the Cup Series Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, but the manufacturer title wasn’t the only prize on Sunday. Tyler Reddick’s late charge won the race and gave Toyota the result it needed to clinch the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturers’ championship, with three races still to go on the postseason schedule.
The No. 45 23XI Racing driver crossed the finish line first after a two-tire strategy call, adding another milestone to a season in which Toyota’s strength has been spread across several teams. The title is Toyota’s fourth Cup Series win since entering NASCAR’s premier division in 2007, and its first since 2019. That season, Toyota drivers won 19 races.
Sunday’s win brought the manufacturer to 18 victories in 2026, putting it one win away from matching that mark with three events remaining. The championship was already within reach before the green flag, with Toyota needing only one driver to finish 15th or better to clinch. Reddick’s victory made the outcome unmistakable. The points cushion reflected that consistency, with Toyota turning speed across the field into the season-long production a title requires.
Toyota’s advantage has come from more than one driver carrying the weight. Joe Gibbs Racing has kept its cars in the championship conversation, while 23XI Racing has delivered an impressive race-winning season of its own. At Phoenix, the manufacturer put three drivers in the top five: Reddick won, Christopher Bell finished fourth, and Toyota development driver Corey Heim crossed the line fifth. Chase Briscoe placed eighth, and Ty Gibbs finished 10th, giving Toyota five cars in the top 10.
Reddick’s victory also arrived at a useful moment for the No. 45 team. After winning five of the first nine races, including the opening three, he hadn’t returned to Victory Lane in 23 races. The Phoenix race didn’t unfold as a straightforward, dominant run. Reddick started sixth and led only 18 of the 312 laps, saving his decisive move for a late restart.
Crew chief Billy Scott called for two tires, giving Reddick track position, and the driver capitalized by passing Chase Briscoe with 18 laps to go. He then held off Ryan Blaney by 0.801 seconds. The result carried significance beyond the trophy. Bell finished fourth and moved to within five points of championship leader Kyle Larson, while Briscoe sits 24 points back and Denny Hamlin is 31 points behind after finishing 28th.
Reddick’s victory moved him to seventh in the standings, 56 points behind Larson, with four Toyota drivers still in contention as the Chase heads into its final three races. Toyota leaves Phoenix with the manufacturers’ title secured and another victory that shows its depth. The remaining races will determine the drivers’ championship, but the manufacturer battle is settled. With 18 wins, multiple teams contributing and four drivers still within reach of the Cup Series crown, Toyota has turned a season-long advantage into a championship before the finale.
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