NASCAR
Daniel Suarez Takes Coca-Cola 600 with Late Pit Gamble
CONCORD, N.C. – Spire Motorsports’ newest driver has found victory lane in one of the biggest races of the season. Thanks to a late two-tire pit road call, Daniel Suarez raced his way into Coca-Cola 600 immortality with a breakthrough triumph. David certainly beat Goliath on a rainy Memorial Day weekend in Charlotte, with a Kyle Busch Motorsports alum taking the checkers.
Despite Toyota muscles flexed early, Stage 1 went to Kyle Larson after a late restart. Stage 2 would go to Denny Hamlin by a wide margin, while Stage 3 went to Christopher Bell. Only four incidents halted the 600 through the opening 300 laps, setting a blistering pace.
As weather slowly approached Charlotte in Stage 4, the race-deciding gamble took place. Pit stops on lap 356 saw Daniel Suarez change only two tires and inherit the lead. Thanks to others racing behind him, Suarez was able to pull away on each restart. Once major rain arrived just shy of 25 laps left, the race was called official with the No. 7 still out front. Suarez ends an 82-race losing drought that went back to the Atlanta three-wide finish from 2024.
See @Daniel_SuarezG learn he won the #CocaCola600 and his @SpireMotorsport 7 team celebrate their crown jewel win. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/e8Q2NwVZsj
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 25, 2026
“This one really means a lot,” Suarez said. “I’ve been saying for years this is my favorite race of the year. To have my family here every year, this is the only race where most of them can come. It’s been a very tough week. Kyle was special man. This one is for Kyle, for Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix and his entire family. This is very special. Every win is special, but definitely this one has a special flavor because of Kyle. This one is for him. If it wasn’t for Kyle, I wasn’t going to be an Xfinity champion, I wasn’t going to have my shot in the Cup Series. To win this for him is unbelievable.”
Behind Suarez at the finish were: Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Kyle Larson. The rest of Charlotte’s top-10 were: Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Zane Smith. Hear from a few of these drivers below.
.@CBellRacing talks through a bittersweet runner-up result as rain falls in Charlotte. #CocaCola600 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/jvemlj9QQ2
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 25, 2026
.@dennyhamlin: “We had planned all day for the last 50 [laps] and man I felt confident”
The 11 leaves the 600 in 3rd after leading 75 laps. #CocaCola600 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/dujm6PJ7hD
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 25, 2026
.@dennyhamlin did pull @TylerReddick aside for a brief post-race chat on pit road. #CocaCola600 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Xeyi03hEBe
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 25, 2026
Thanks to this breakout victory, Suarez vaults himself up to 10th in points. The rest of the updated championship leaders can be seen below.
Top 10 in #NASCAR Cup Series points after Charlotte pic.twitter.com/KLtMGVWE1Q
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 25, 2026
NASCAR Cup Series cars will be back in action next from Nashville Superspeedway. The Cracker Barrel 400 goes green Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo credits to Krista Jasso/Getty Images
