CONCORD, NC — All weekend long, in the days following the sudden death of one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, Daniel Suarez talked about how generous and good Kyle Busch was toward him.
When Suarez first came to the U.S. from Mexico to compete full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015, Busch called him every week. He offered advice, pointers and helped Suarez adapt to a new country and a different level of stockcar racing. That was during a year in which Busch spent nearly half of the NASCAR Cup Series season recovering from a broken leg before going on to win his first championship.
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“He didn’t know who I was, he didn’t know anything about me, and he took the time to always answer the phone and helped me literally for the entire year of 2015,” Suarez said. “It’s very meaningful, because, like I said, I didn’t have anyone to ask for help.”
Suarez got some support Sunday night from the clouds above.
After quickly pitting during one of the several cautions during Stage Four of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Suarez skillfully escaped pit road to be the first car out. He remained in the lead for the final 17 laps of the race, deftly blocking Christopher Bell and driving into clean air before more cautions came due to lightning and rain.
Ultimately, NASCAR called the race with 27 laps to go and Suarez was the car in front. When he hopped out of No. 7 Chevrolet sponsored by Freeway Insurance, he held back tears, pointed to the sky, then put on a black hat with a No. 8 patch on it for his friend, Busch.
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“Most people knew Kyle as the villain, right? As that guy that fans either love him or hate him, but he had a huge heart,” Suarez said “And he was one of those people that was always willing to give you a hand.”
The victory for Suarez is the third of his Cup Series career, which began back in 2017 with JGR. It’s the first win for Suarez with his new team, Spire Motorsports, and also his first in more than two years. Suarez last took the checkered flag in the Cup Series on Feb. 25, 2024 in Atlanta.
For Suarez, the win wasn’t just a proof-of-concept result that showed he’s having real success with Spire after parting ways with his former team Trackhouse. It certainly is that, but also so much more. It carries extra meaning for the 34-year-old who not only considered Busch a friend and mentor but also raced for his Kyle Busch Motorsports team in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Suarez drove Sunday with a KBM sticker on his bumper and held up a “Rowdy Nation” flag in victory lane.
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“This one really means a lot. I’ve been saying for years, this is my favorite race of the year,” Suarez said. “And it’s been a very tough week. Kyle, he was special, man. This one is for Kyle. For Kyle, for Samantha, for Brexton, for Lennix — for his whole family. It’s just very special. Every win is special, but definitely this one has a special flavor because of Kyle. This one is for him.”
The Coca-Cola 600 was the first NASCAR Cup Series race following the shocking loss of the 41-year-old Busch, who died Thursday due to what his family called complications from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. Memorial Day weekend is usually a celebration for motorsports with the Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500 both running on Sunday, but NASCAR garages were full of sadness at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Those emotions remained heavy as Busch’s family appeared alongside NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell just before the race. He told Busch’s wife Samantha, “This sport stands with you. You and your children are NASCAR family forever.”
She cried into the shoulder of her 11-year-old son Brexton as the crowd cheered. O’Donnell continued: “Everyone gathered here, everyone behind you, everyone watching on TV and all those people up in that grandstand are your family. And we’ve got you.” In another emotional moment, Busch’s brother, Kurt, laid eight roses on the No. 8 that was printed on the infield.
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Suarez was one of the countless drivers who wore Busch hats or t-shirts before the race Sunday and all weekend long during public appearances.
The sun was out and shining bright during the pre-race ceremonies and when the green flag first dropped on the Coke 600, one of the crown jewel races in NASCAR’s Cup Series. It featured 12 cautions and 32 lead changes, and just 20 of the 39 cars finished on the lead lap. Several marquee drivers, including Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain and Chase Briscoe crashed out.
Inclement weather held off for the first three stages of the race, which featured a lot of green-flag racing. Tyler Reddick led for 119 laps and Denny Hamlin led for 75 as Toyota machines dominated for much of the night.
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Bell in the No. 20 Toyota also led for 44 laps, but couldn’t maneuver around Suarez late in Stage 4.
“I didn’t really think that we were going to lose the racetrack. I ultimately think (NASCAR) made the right call, calling the race,” said Bell, who settled for second place. “(Suarez) did everything right to defend the position and win the race. I knew that it was going to come down to keeping him pinned on the restart, not letting him clear me for the lead, and he cleared me.”
Suarez was an afterthought for most of the race, but his team gambled in the fourth stage of the race and put on two tires instead of four, allowing the No. 7 to get out of pit road first. It was then up to Suarez to hold off the Toyotas, specifically Bell and Hamlin.
“Daniel had to drive his ass off those last two restarts against some studs,” Suarez’s crew chief Ryan Sparks said.
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The victory made Suarez the first Mexican-born driver to win the Coca-Cola 600. He moved up four positions in points and is now 10th in the standings. The No. 7 has three other top 10 finishes this season.
Very tough days continued for Richard Childress Racing, the team Busch belonged to. Austin Dillon did not finish the race after wrecking, and Austin Hill — driving Busch’s car, renumbered to 33 — finished 27th, a lap down.
It was also a difficult day for Katherine Legge, who became the first woman to attempt “The Double.” She wrecked in the Indy 500 though and finished in 31st, 12 laps down, at Charlotte after losing a tire and enduring some other challenges.
For Spire Motorsports, it was the second victory of the year for the group in the Cup Series. Carson Hocevar won earlier this season at Talladega. After the race, Spire Motorsports’ co-owner Jeff Dickerson praised Suarez and Sparks, but also credited Busch for the win saying, “Just want to thank Kyle for the shove.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyle Busch was a big help to Coca-Cola 600 winner Daniel Suarez
