Suarez Proves Value Of Tire Strategy With Top-10 Finish

Daniel Suarez's crew changes tires during a pit stop Sunday at Richmond Raceway. (Nigel Kinrade/NKP photo)

RICHMOND, Va. – Daniel Suarez left Richmond Raceway Sunday night as one of the biggest proponents of NASCAR’s decision to add a softer ‘option tire’ into the mix at the three-quarter-mile oval.

Suarez returned from his eventful Olympic break, which included a NASCAR Brasil Series win at Interlagos and his marriage to longtime girlfriend Julia Piquet, to post a solid outing in the Cook Out 400 by coming home 10th.

Just days after announcing his one-year extension with Trackhouse Racing, the Mexican-born driver became one of the first to fasten on the ‘reds’ that NASCAR and Goodyear debuted in regular-season competition, quickly proving that they opened up race strategy in a huge way.

With the softer rubber providing a speed advantage over the typical ‘prime’ compound, Suarez wheeled his No. 99 Choice Hotels Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to the stage two victory, netting him 10 points and a bonus playoff point, which could prove vital in a few weeks’ time.

The 32-year-old qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs by virtue of his thrilling three-wide victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in February, but has had an otherwise off year.

Despite missing out on the postseason last year, Suarez still earned three top fives and 10 top 10s, as well as a pole. This season, Suarez had only two top fives and five top 10s entering Richmond.

A late strategy call to take his last set of option tires, which could’ve netted Suarez his second victory of the year, was thwarted by a caution with two laps to go. However, Suarez still hung on through the chaos of overtime to net his sixth top-10 finish of the season, a crucial moment as the playoffs loom large.

“That was a fun race! It was like Mario Kart with a star,” Suarez said, referencing the increased pace provided by the softer Goodyear compound.

“These option tires, if NASCAR and the fans didn’t like it, I don’t know what they would like because they were amazing. The strategy played a huge role in what everyone was doing; what we were doing and everyone’s different agenda. It was fun,” he added. “I enjoyed it and the No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevy was fast. The guys did an amazing job with the strategy.

“It didn’t work out at the end, but we gave it a shot and we ended up with a 10th-place finish.”

It’s no secret that Trackhouse Racing as a whole has struggled this season, but a dual top-10 night (Ross Chastain finished fifth) could be just the swing in momentum the organization has been seeking with three weeks until the postseason reset.

The NASCAR Cup Series continues with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Int’l Speedway. Broadcast coverage is slated for Aug. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.