Daniel Suárez honored his close friend Kyle Busch in the best way possible on Sunday night.
Suárez used a two-tire pit stop and hard rain to hold off Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin and win an emotional Coca-Cola 600 in the first race since the death of 41-year-old two-time Nascar champion Busch. Suárez’s third career Cup Series victory broke an 82-race winless streak for the driver. The veteran was a part-time driver in Nascar’s truck series in 2015 and 2016, wheeling the Kyle Busch Motorsports No 51.
“This one really means a lot,” said Suárez, who was hugged on pit road by teammate Michael McDowell and four-time 600 winner Jimmie Johnson. “I’ve been saying for years this is my favorite race of the year … It’s been a very tough week. You know, Kyle, he was special, man. We wanted to win this one for Kyle, Samantha, Brexton and Lennix and his family.
“Every win is special, but definitely this one has a special flavor because of Kyle. This one is for him. If it wasn’t for Kyle, I wasn’t going to be an Xfinity champion. I wasn’t going to have my shot in the Cup Series. To be able to win this race for him is unbelievable.”
After a ceremony with Busch’s family in attendance to honor the 2015 and 2019 champion, Reddick led the 39-car field in the “missing man” formation by dropping back, leaving an open spot where the polesitter would line up during the warmup laps.
Busch’s family said he died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.
British racer Katherine Legge wrecked early in the Indianapolis 500 and came in 31st in Charlotte to become the foreign-born female driver to attempt “The Double.”
