Big gamble from Daniel Suarez pays off with NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 win in Charlotte

Alex Zietlow and Scott Fowler, The Charlotte Observer on May 24, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suarez made a move that would’ve made his mentor proud. And it won the race for him.

The driver of the No. 7 car won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, and he did so thanks to the kind of shrewd move that would’ve made the late Kyle Busch — and one of Suarez’s confidants throughout his career — smile.

The move: With about 50 laps to go, Suarez was running 13th when he and the rest of the NASCAR Cup faced a decision on a late-race caution. Suarez opted to take two tires, leapfrogging everyone on the restart and starting the next restart in P1.

Then, less than two laps later, the rain came. Caution. The rain relented for a moment. And Suarez held on to a tough restart. Then the rain started again. Then, one last time, the field restarted.

Suarez held on again. Then it poured. And Suarez never relinquished his lead.

This marks the Front Row Motorsports driver’s first win of the 2026 season — his first Cup win since February 2024.

It also marks the first time in NASCAR history when all three national series races were shortened by inclement weather; the Truck Series and the O’Reilly Series race were both postponed by the deluge of rain.

When the race became official, with Suarez on pit road, the driver burst into tears. He discarded his helmet, took his No. 8 hat and pointed it up to the sky.

____