At Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, Daniel Suarez put the pedal to the metal and let his performance do the talking, clinching an emotional win at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He dedicated the win to Kyle Busch, honoring the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion after a somber week for the racing world.
Busch passed away on Thursday at the age of 41 after complications from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, according to a statement released by his family. Before the race, NASCAR honored the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champion with a tribute ceremony attended by his wife Samantha, children Brexton and Lennix, parents Tom and Gaye Busch, and brother Kurt Busch, the 2004 Cup champion and 2010 Coca-Cola 600 winner.
During pre-race laps, the 39-car field performed a “missing man” formation, leaving Busch’s starting position empty. Fans also observed a moment of silence, while drivers carried No. 8 decals on their cars to honor Busch and his longtime Richard Childress Racing number. On Lap 8, the broadcast went silent as fans raised eight fingers in tribute.
Suarez, who once drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, used strategy and changing weather conditions to secure the win. His Spire Motorsports team opted for a two-tire stop with 45 laps remaining after a caution caused by lightning. Rain soon intensified, leading NASCAR to halt the race and eventually declare Suarez the winner after a short three-lap run with 27 laps left.
The victory was Suarez’s third career Cup Series win and his first since February 2024, ending an 82-race winless streak. It also moved him to 10th in the Cup Series standings as the regular season reached its halfway point.
“This one really means a lot,” said Suarez after climbing from his No. 7 Chevrolet while wearing a No. 8 hat in Busch’s honor. “I’ve been saying for years this is my favourite 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 flavour 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.”
This win is for Kyle. pic.twitter.com/1pcAKDpOvp
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 25, 2026
Christopher Bell finished second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Kyle Larson. Austin Hill, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet in place of Busch’s No. 8 car for Richard Childress Racing, finished 27th.
Busch leaves behind one of the greatest statistical resumes in NASCAR history, recording 234 combined victories across the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series, including 63 Cup Series wins, ninth-most all-time.
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