Suarez Falls Short in Las Vegas as Late Caution Derails Victory Hopes

Suarez Falls Short in Las Vegas as Late Caution Derails Victory Hopes

By Michael Anderson

March 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM

Daniel Suarez came tantalizingly close to victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Pennzoil 400, ultimately finishing second to Josh Berry after leading in the final laps.

NASCAR cars racing at Daytona

NASCAR cars racing at Daytona

The decisive moment came during the final restart with 19 laps remaining. Suarez, leading the pack, maintained control until Berry made his move with 16 laps to go, completing the pass after a three-lap battle.

"It just sucks to be that close," Suarez reflected. "Sometimes I feel like third feels better than second."

The opportunity arose when a caution flag with 23 laps remaining eliminated a potential fuel mileage scenario. Suarez's No. 99 team executed a swift four-tire stop, putting him in the lead for the final restart. However, his car's handling on short runs proved to be the deciding factor.

"I was having a little bit too much contact with the ground in turns 1 and 2," Suarez explained. "The first five laps were my weakness, and unfortunately, we lost the race there."

Despite the disappointment, the second-place finish marked a significant improvement for Suarez, whose previous best result in 2025 was 13th at the Daytona 500. His Trackhouse Racing team showed strong overall performance, with teammate Ross Chastain finishing fifth. Both drivers led multiple laps during the race, with Suarez leading 12 laps and Chastain 14.

"A lot of good things from today," Suarez concluded. "A lot of things to be proud of. A good day to build off."

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