Daniel Suárez emergió victorioso en una de las finales más emocionantes en la historia de la NASCAR. La carrera de la Copa Atlanta vio a Suárez asegurar la victoria por un margen minúsculo de 0,003, según informó IMAGO. La decisión de repavimentar el Atlanta Motor Speedway y convertirlo en un superóvalo corto ha demostrado ser una jugada inteligente de la NASCAR. Por segundo año consecutivo, la pista proporcionó una carrera electrizante, culminando en una emocionante final con tres autos lado a lado en la última vuelta. Esta victoria marca la segunda victoria en la carrera de Suárez, representando un hito significativo para Trackhouse Racing.
During the climactic final lap, four drivers battled intensely for the coveted race win. Suárez, the defending champion, along with RCR drivers and , were in contention. As the race reached the third turn, the No:23 car was no longer a factor, leaving Busch in the No:8 car and Suárez in the No:99 car to engage in an thrilling side-by-side battle. The finish was so incredibly close that it was difficult to discern the winner among the three competitors.
NASCAR quickly confirmed that Suárez was the first driver to cross the finish line, narrowly edging out second-place Blaney by a mere 0.003 seconds. Busch, who secured third place, trailed Suárez by a margin of 0.007 seconds at the finish line. This remarkable conclusion ranks among the top three closest finishes in NASCAR Cup Series history, with only closer finishes occurring at the Talladega races in 2011 and Darlington in 2003, both with differences of 0.002 seconds.
The outcome of the race bears a striking resemblance to a scene from the NASCAR-themed Pixar animated film. The three-car championship battle in the movie mirrors the thrilling finish witnessed on the track. The NASCAR community has embraced this resemblance, with Cars movie memes flooding social media following Suárez’s impressive victory.
This victory holds special significance for the Mexican driver, whose position at Trackhouse was in jeopardy. Having ended the previous season without wins and missing out on the playoffs due to his inability to perform consistently, Suárez faced significant criticism. However, his win in Sonoma in 2022 and now the victory in Atlanta have proven that his lack of success in 2023 was merely a result of unfortunate circumstances. With this win, Suárez no longer needs to fear being replaced at the end of 2024, and Trackhouse may need to seek new opportunities for their developing drivers, and .
The season is just beginning for Suárez, and now he sets his sights on securing additional wins during the regular season, positioning himself strongly for the playoffs. At this moment, the Mexican driver is enjoying his moment in the spotlight and celebrating his victory alongside his friends.