Daniel Suarez wins rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 in NASCAR tribute to late Kyle Busch
Daniel Suarez won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, becoming the first Mexican-born driver to win NASCAR's longest race. The event served as a public tribute to two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who died Thursday at age 41.
CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suarez won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, capping an emotional NASCAR Cup Series race that doubled as a public tribute to Kyle Busch, the 41-year-old driver who died earlier in the week.
Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's longest annual race. The victory was his third Cup Series win and his first since 2024. He previously raced for Kyle Busch Motorsports and said he had received frequent calls of encouragement from Busch during the years he struggled to establish himself at the sport's top level.
"Kyle, he was special," Suarez said in a post-race interview, tearing up. "I was doing this for Kyle, for [his wife] Samantha, for [his children] Brexton and Lennix and for all of his family."
A non-factor for most of the night, Suarez moved into contention after his team called for a two-tire stop during a late-race caution. He held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin on the ensuing restarts before NASCAR called the race with 27 laps remaining as rain drenched Charlotte Motor Speedway shortly before midnight Eastern. Bell finished second and Hamlin third. Kyle Larson won the first stage, Hamlin the second and Bell the third.
Busch died Thursday after a case of severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, according to a statement released by his family. The 41-year-old, a two-time Cup Series champion, was one of the most successful drivers of his generation. His family attended Sunday's race. NASCAR Chief Executive Steve O'Donnell told them publicly that they would remain part of the NASCAR community.
The sanctioning body and Charlotte Motor Speedway honored Busch with his No. 8 and signature painted on the frontstretch grass, a memorial billboard near the main gate and a black No. 8 decal on each of the 39 cars in the field. The U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team carried a Busch flag during pre-race ceremonies.
Defending Coca-Cola 600 champion Ross Chastain crashed out with 81 laps left after contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in Turn 2.