Written by Charles Odum, Associated Press Sports Writer

HAMPTON, Ga.

Daniel Suarez was unsure if he had won after the closest finish in the history of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Next, there was photographic proof: Suarez narrowly beat out Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide dash at the finish line to claim victory in a chaotic NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.

Suarez’s second victory in 253 Cup races sparked a joyous celebration, with numerous drivers congratulating the beloved native of Monterrey, Mexico.

Suarez, who began this contract year with Trackhouse Racing unsure of his future, described the experience as a truly unique moment.

“I had high hopes when I saw the tower, thinking I was the first one. However, it turns out there was a review and I didn’t end up getting it.”

Suarez claimed his first win since June 2022 at Sonoma, marking his first triumph on a speedway. However, he expressed that he is not content with securing a spot in the playoffs after just the second race of the season. The review solidified his victory.

Suarez stated that some individuals have suggested that he can now take it easy since he has made it to the playoffs. However, he strongly disagrees and is determined to win multiple races. He believes that there is no room for relaxation in this competitive environment and his ultimate goal is to see himself in victory lane.

After winning the Trucks race on Saturday, Busch positioned himself between Blaney, the 2023 Cup champion, and Suarez in order to create an exciting finish. Blaney came in second, trailing by only 0.003 seconds, while Busch took third place.

Blaney expressed enjoyment in the race, but ultimately fell just a few inches short. He expressed happiness for Daniel and enjoyed the competition with him and Kyle.

Suarez acknowledged Busch, another Chevrolet driver, for delivering a late surge.

Busch expressed his pleasure in witnessing Daniel’s victory. He acknowledged that their partnership as Chevy team members played a role in their success and highlighted the effectiveness of alliances and friendships in racing.

The largest pileup in the history of Atlanta Motor Speedway occurred on the second lap, involving 16 cars. This set the tone for a series of subsequent crashes. As a result, many cars were heavily damaged and had to be taped up for the remainder of the afternoon.

As Austin Cindric shifted to the bottom of the track in his Team Penske Ford, the intensity increased. He made a four-wide pass to secure the lead with only 50 laps left.

Michael McDowell earned his first pole position after 467 races on Saturday. He led the first stage, but ran into Daytona 500 winner William Byron while attempting to enter pit road during the second stage. McDowell’s car sustained damage to the front right and both drivers fell behind by one lap. However, McDowell managed to make his way back to the front during the final stage and ultimately finished in eighth place.

THE CLOSE FINISH

Furthermore, not only was Atlanta’s finish the closest, but it also marked the closest finish at a 1.5-mile track and the third-closest finish in the Cup series since electronic scoring was implemented in 1993.

There were ten warnings and a record-breaking 48 changes in the lead in Atlanta.

GILLILAND’S BEST RACE

Todd Gilliland had a career-high of 58 laps led, which is particularly impressive for a third-year driver who only led a total of 11 laps in his first two seasons. Unfortunately, he finished in 26th place.

Gilliland, a 23-year-old from North Carolina, appeared comfortable at the Atlanta race track, sporting a “Georgia Peanuts” emblem on the hood of his Ford vehicle from Front Row Motorsports.

Logano and Elliott will begin the race from the rear of the field.

Joey Logano qualified in second place on Saturday, but due to a safety violation involving his gloves, he had to start at the back of the field and serve a pass-through penalty. Similarly, Chase Elliott, who qualified in 28th place, was also moved to the back row, one spot ahead of Logano, after unapproved adjustments were made to the engine sensor on his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

On Friday, items from the cars of two Ford drivers from Stewart-Haas Racing, Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece, were taken for inspection. It is possible that NASCAR will make decisions on the matter next week.

In 2022, Elliott achieved his first victory at his hometown track in Atlanta. He began stage 3 in fourth position but dropped to eighth after being hit from behind by Ross Chastain’s Chevrolet. The collision caused Elliott to spin out, ultimately ending his chances of winning.

LAP 2 MELEE

During the second lap, Suarez was involved in a 16-car accident. Williams’ Chevrolet had to be taken to the garage along with other potential contenders such as Bowman, Dillon, Reddick, Elliott, Wallace, and Bell, all of whom sustained damage and continued in the race.

Logano, the recipient, received his required penalty while the race was paused and reentered the track in 20th position when the race resumed. Logano’s impressive comeback continued as he finished 12th at the conclusion of the initial stage, which was won by McDowell.

Logano’s fortunate streak came to an end during the last lap of Stage 2 as he veered into the lane of Buescher’s Ford and Hamlin’s Toyota. Cindric emerged as the winner of the stage.

UP NEXT

Next weekend, the Cup Series will be heading to Las Vegas.

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Formula 1 racing is covered by the Associated Press.

Source: wralsportsfan.com