Daniel Suarez uses two-tire gamble, rain to win Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

RPW EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY: Steven Brien / RPW – CONCORD, NC  – Daniel Suarez capitalized on a bold late-race strategy call and incoming weather to score an emotional victory in the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Crew chief Ryan Sparks called Suarez to pit for two tires during a caution with 48 laps remaining, allowing the No. 7 Chevrolet to inherit the lead when much of the field took four tires. Rain and lightning soon arrived at the speedway, and NASCAR ultimately called the race after a red flag with Suarez still out front.

“This one really means a lot,” Suarez said after climbing from his No. 7 Chevrolet. “This is my favorite race of the year.”

The victory came during an emotional weekend for NASCAR following the death of Kyle Busch on Thursday. Suarez dedicated the win to Busch and his family during his post-race interview.

“This one is very special,” he said. “This one is for Kyle, Samantha, Brexton, for Lennix, for all his family.”

A caution for lightning in the area interrupted the race with Christopher Bell leading and 48 laps remaining. During the ensuing pit stops, Suarez’s two-tire call vaulted him to the front of the field. 

Another caution flew eight laps later when rain reached Turns 1 and 2, bringing out a brief red flag. NASCAR resumed the race for several laps before heavier rain and lightning forced officials to stop the race for good with Suarez leading Bell and Denny Hamlin. 

Bell finished second after winning stage three and leading 44 laps.

“Just a bummer,” Bell said on pit road. “Wasn’t meant to be today.”

Hamlin, who led 75 laps and won Stage 2, settled for third after repeatedly battling Suarez during the closing run. 

“Dang it,” Hamlin said after climbing from his No. 11 Toyota. “Every time I had great position, the seven was washing up.” 

Tyler Reddick finished fourth, while Kyle Larson completed the top five. Ty Gibbs was sixth, followed by Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron and Zane Smith in the top 10. 

After an aggressive 3 wide pass on a restart with five to go in stage one, Larson would drive off to win his fourth stage of 2026. 

Chase Briscoe was second, Reddick third, Hamlin in fourth, and Erik Jones rounded out the top five. Blaney was sixth followed by Gibbs, Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and Shane Van Gisbergen to complete the top ten.

The first caution of the race came on Lap 35 when Josh Berry spun in Turn 2. 

A major accident followed on Lap 53 when Austin Cindric spun entering Turn 2 and sustained heavy damage after contact from rookie Connor Zilisch. Byron also suffered minor damage in the incident. 

Later in Stage 1, Chase Elliott crashed head-on into the inside wall exiting Turn 2 to bring out another caution with 11 laps remaining in the segment. Just before the crash, Smith had impressed by leading a career-high 31 laps after taking two tires on an earlier pit stop.

Hamlin dominated Stage 2, taking the lead from Briscoe on Lap 143 before pulling away for his fourth stage victory of the season. Gibbs finished second in the segment, followed by Briscoe, Reddick and Larson. Christopher Bell was sixth, Blaney seventh, Chris Buescher eighth, Van Gisbergen ninth, and Stenhouse rounded out the top ten. 

Several contenders encountered problems during the middle stages of the race. Alex Bowman lost first and second gear after a transaxle issue, while Smith and Michael McDowell suffered flat tires that forced green-flag pit stops. Carson Hocevar also lost a lap after a lengthy 29-second pit stop. 

Katherine Legge endured a difficult day after attempting the Indianapolis 500-Coca-Cola 600 “double.” Following an early crash at Indianapolis, Legge lost a right-rear wheel in Charlotte on Lap 210, bringing out another caution. 

Bell used strategy from crew chief Adam Stevens to win Stage 3 after passing Hamlin with five laps remaining in the segment. Hamlin finished second in the stage, followed by Gibbs, Briscoe and Larson. Reddick was sixth after fading on old tires. Van Gisbergen was seventh followed by Brad Keselowski, Blaney, and Stenhouse to complete the top ten.

The final stage featured multiple incidents. Under the Stage 3 caution, Timmy Hill’s Ford caught fire on pit road, ending his race. 

On Lap 318, Ross Chastain attempted to block Stenhouse Jr. exiting Turn 2, but contact sent Chastain spinning head-on into the inside wall, ending his night. 

Another major wreck erupted on Lap 329 when Briscoe attempted a three-wide move and clipped Chris Buescher, sending Buescher into the outside wall and collecting Ryan Preece and Berry. Preece later slid back down the track and struck Briscoe, who slammed hard into the inside wall. 

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Coca-Cola 600

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Concord, NC

Sunday May 24, 2026

1. (14) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 373.
2. (17) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 373.
3. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 373.
4. (1) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 373.
5. (18) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 373.
6. (2) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 373.
7. (6) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 373.
8. (33) Joey Logano, Ford, 373.
9. (31) William Byron, Chevrolet, 373.
10.  (19) Zane Smith, Ford, 373.
11.  (3) Shane van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 373.
12.  (32) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 373.
13.  (21) Erik Jones, Toyota, 373.
14.  (4) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 373.
15.  (26) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 373.
16.  (22) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 373.
17.  (29) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 373.
18.  (10) A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 373.
19.  (39) Corey Heim (i), Toyota, 373.
20.  (20) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 373.
21.  (30) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 372.
22.  (24) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 372.
23.  (23) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 372.
24.  (28) Noah Gragson, Ford, 372.
25.  (35) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 372.
26.  (15) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 372.
27.  (13) Austin Hill (i), Chevrolet, 372.
28.  (38) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 371.
29.  (34) Josh Berry, Ford, 371.
30.  (7) Chris Buescher, Ford, 367.
31.  (37) Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, 361.
32.  (9) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 338.
33.  (12) Ryan Preece, Ford, Accident, 328.
34.  (5) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, Accident, 328.
35.  (27) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, Accident, 317.
36.  (36) Timmy Hill (i), Ford, Engine, 291.
37.  (16) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Accident, 89.
38.  (8) Austin Cindric, Ford, Accident, 52.
39.  (25) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, Accident, 52.