Daniel Suarez knew it was “recreation over” when he misplaced his assist from Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain throughout extra time Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Suarez fought to a second-place end within the NASCAR Cup Collection playoff opener. He was side-by-side with Joey Logano on the restart and on the white flag, however the teammates couldn’t keep locked collectively in Turns 1 and a pair of on the ultimate lap because the Group Penske teammates of Logano and Ryan Blaney surged on the underside.
Logano was clear forward on the end as Suarez fought Blaney for the second place. NASCAR needed to affirm the end to find out the ending order as a crash occurred in Turns 3 and 4 that froze the sector.
“I can’t thank [Chastain] sufficient as a result of he pushed me very, superb on the restart, all the best way in [Turns] 1 and a pair of, all the best way in [Turns] 3 and 4,” Suarez mentioned. “He saved me in place, and we had been proper there within the struggle. I used to be timing the second push and as soon as I acquired the second push, I misplaced him. I don’t know if he had a flat tire or what occurred precisely, however as soon as I misplaced him, I knew that was recreation over as a result of that was my dancing companion.
“Total, I’m very pleased with everybody at Trackhouse. They did an amazing job. We’ve been fairly robust right here for a few years. It form of stinks we’re not in victory lane; I felt like we had been in place to do this, however that’s a part of racing. We have now to proceed to work [but] good beginning out the playoffs.”
The one Trackhouse Racing driver within the postseason, Suarez had purpose to be assured in having his teammate as a helper. He additionally almost swept the Atlanta races for the season.
Within the closing laps of regulation, the No. 99 battled Logano and Ty Gibbs for the lead and potential victory. On a restart with 5 laps to go, Gibbs cleared Suarez in Turns 1 and a pair of earlier than Suarez made a crossover transfer down the backstretch to drag even as soon as extra. Gibbs, Suarez, and Logano had been three extensive for the lead with three laps to go.
Because the Trackhouse Chevy was side-by-side with Logano’s Ford for the lead with two laps to go, a crash involving Noah Gragson on the backstretch arrange extra time. Logano was listed because the race chief going into the extra time try and Suarez was second.
Logano selected the underside lane with Blaney behind him. Suarez and Chastain lined up on the surface.
“Actually, proper now, I don’t care about factors,” Suarez mentioned. “It simply hurts we’re not in victory lane, however that’s a part of it. Perhaps there are a few issues I might have carried out higher.”
Suarez leaves Atlanta with a 22-point benefit on the cutline.
