TC Daily Pit Stop: Daniel Suarez Wins Sensational Race at Atlanta in Three-Wide Photo Finish; Highlights from Ambetter Health 400
TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, February 26th, 2024
Daniel Suarez Notches Victory in Sensational Finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway
After a difficult 2023 season, Daniel Suárez was desperately in need of a victory with Trackhouse Racing and his No. 99 Chevrolet. Well, he got that victory, in what is likely one of the best finishes in NASCAR history.
The Monterrey, Mexico-native stuck to the third lane on the final lap of Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400, as Kyle Busch darted through the middle down the backstretch, leaving them both to drag race with Ryan Blaney three-wide to the finish.
Suarez captured the victory by 0.003 seconds — the third-closest finish in NASCAR history — over Ryan Blaney, while Kyle Busch finished in third just 0.007 second behind the race-winning driver.
Austin Cindric and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top-five. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. finished in sixth, while Ross Chastain, polesitter Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, and Ty Gibbs completed the top-10.
RACE RECAP
RACE RESULTS
DRIVER POINTS
OWNER POINTS
INSPECTION REPORT
VIDEO OF FINISH
Video: Four-Wide Situation Triggers Five-Car Wreck Involving Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe
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Video: Larson, Keselowski, LaJoie Swept Up in Late-Race Accident at Atlanta
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Video: Logano, Buescher, and Hamlin Crash on Final Lap of Stage 2
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Video: Michael McDowell, William Byron Crash Entering Pit Road at Atlanta
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The Big One: 19-Car Pileup Erupts on Lap 2 of Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta
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Joey Logano to Drop to Rear, Serve Pass Through Penalty for Safety Violation at Atlanta
Joey Logano was slated to roll from the starting grid from the runner-up spot, but due to a safety violation discovered on Sunday morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway before the Ambetter Health 400, Logano will drop to the rear of the field prior to the start of the race, and he will perform a pass-through penalty after the start of the race.
This penalty is a combination penalty as the glove itself was modified in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage, according to NASCAR. NASCAR has the right to assess at-track penalties for competition infractions, which it did in this case. There is also still the possibility of additional penalties following the race due to the safety infraction. If there are any additional penalties due to the altered glove, they will be most likely monetary.
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William Byron Hints at LEGO Sponsorship: ‘We’re Working on it’
Prior to the season-opening Daytona 500, Byron was featured in the NASCAR: Full Speed Netflix docuseries, which followed drivers through the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. In a featured behind-the-scenes clip of Byron at home, the driver shows off his passion for LEGOs. Whether it be the NASCAR Next Gen car set, the Titanic, or a space shuttle, you see completed LEGO builds all around his house in the show.
Needless to say, Byron’s status has grown quite a bit since that appearance on LEGO Masters in December, 2022. Now, it appears as though Byron has LEGO’s attention to the point that the iconic brand very well could serve as a primary sponsorship partner of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet someday soon.
“Yeah, I mean we’re working on it, for sure,” Byron said during a media availability on Saturday. “I’d love to have a LEGO car out there. I think they do so many unique things with that design. Certainly, still going to build.. need to work on my next project here soon. I have some ideas. They are going to send me quite a few sets, so that’ll be nice. No more eBay. I usually go on eBay and get the LEGO sets because they’re backordered.”
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