Mexican Daniel Suarez wins Coca-Cola 600, honors Kyle Busch
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Staff Reports, Staff reports
- May 25, 2026
Daniel Suarez continues 'redemption' story
After making history as the first Mexican to win the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, Daniel Suarez thought of Kyle Busch, the NASCAR legend who died a few days earlier.
Busch had mentored Suarez as the Monterrey, Mexico, native fought to establish himself in racing. Like most NASCAR drivers and fans, Suarez was devastated when his friend died suddenly on Thursday. Suarez was moved to tears after he saw Busch’s widow Samantha and his two sons, Brexton and Lennix, before the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Seeing Samantha today for the first time totally broke my heart,” Suarez said. “I saw Brexton as well. For a split second, I grabbed him and gave him a kiss on his head.
“There were so many emotions, so many emotions. I feel like, when I jumped in the car, I wasn’t ready really to drive. Once I got my helmet on, I closed my eyes and tried to reset for 15, 20 seconds. And then I was ready.”
‘Difficult week’
Busch was on Suarez’s mind after he won the rain-shortened race in his Chevrolet No. 7 for his third NASCAR Cup Series victory and first since 2024.
“The very first thing that came to my mind was Kyle,” Suarez said. “As we all know, this has been a difficult week and weekend for all of us — drivers, team owners, media, fans, most important, his family.
“A few days ago I was still hoping that somebody was going to say that it wasn’t real. So the fact that Kyle helped me so much to — through the Xfinity Series and eventually that led me to have a Cup opportunity, that relationship that Jeff Dickerson has — had with Kyle for many years. Spire Motorsports actually operates in KBM, Kyle Busch Motorsports, building, trade shop. This is no coincidence. The stars align.”
Suarez, 34, was born in Monterrey. He won the 2016 Xfinity Series and then painstakingly worked to establish himself in NASCAR’s top division, the Cup Series.
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Driving Trackhouse Racing’s No. 99 Chevrolet, Suarez made history in 2022 when he won at Sonoma Raceway to become the first Mexican to win a Cup Series race. He earned his second Cup Series victory in February 2024 at the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
That was his last victory with Trackhouse Racing’s No. 99. After an admittedly disappointing 2025 Cup Series, Trackhouse Racing and Suarez parted ways.
Redemption tour
Daniel Suarez joined Spire Racing, which is owned by Jeff Dickerson and Dan Towriss. The move has clearly paid off so far. Suarez ranks 10th in the Cup Series this year after missing the Cup Series Playoff last year.
At the time of the announcement last October, Dickerson conceded that Spire Racing and Suarez needed each other. Dickerson essentially described Suarez as a “redemption story” given a platform to prove his doubters wrong.
“I’m happy for Daniel,” Dickerson said Sunday night. “He’s had a chip on his shoulder. But man, he’s really fit in with us. He’s been so good just being like the glue. He’s right in the middle. Got Carson (Hocevar) way over here and (Michael) McDowell way over here.
“And he does a really good job just uplifting everybody, just asking the right questions. He also has a really big curiosity on everything. How about the redemption story will be complete when we make the playoffs with that team?”
Kyle Busch ties
Spire Racing operates out of Kyle Busch Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. Busch was actually preparing to compete at the Coca-Cola 600 before he died suddenly after a reported battle with pneumonia.
“It was very emotional, very, very emotional to see Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, Kyle’s dad, mom, Kurt, and the rest of my competitors, drivers,” Suarez said. “Many of us were crying. It was tough. It was tough. We lost a legend, and most importantly, we lost a friend. It’s been difficult.
“I’m so glad that Spire Motorsports and the 7 team was able to get it done for him.”
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