Watch: Atlanta Cup Series race comes down to photo finish

NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez (99) (near wall) beats NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) to the line to win the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta comes down to incredible photo finish

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated Feb 26, 2024 8:17 AM ET

In arguably one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory, Daniel Suarez took the checkered flag in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta.

Suarez, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch were neck and neck down the stretch, extended three-wide across the track. However, Suarez was able to fend off the pair by mere milliseconds to earn the win.

Can you believe this finish!? pic.twitter.com/zKwqYNRQbG
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 26, 2024

According to the unofficial results, Suarez and the No. 99 Chevy beat Blaney by 0.003 seconds and Busch by 0.007. If numbers don't do justice enough, the shot from the finish line shows how close Sunday's race was.

THAT'S HOW CLOSE IT WAS!

Daniel Suarez beats Ryan Blaney at the line to WIN at @ATLMotorSpdwy! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/XqWS183NO3
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) February 26, 2024

Suarez, who started the race in the 23rd position, led only nine laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway after crashing on lap two. Nevertheless, he came out on top, earning his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the season and second of his career.

After the race, Suarez lauded Blaney, Busch and Austin Cindric for pushing him down the backend while crediting his team for navigating early hiccups.

"It was so damn close. It was good racing," Suarez told Regan Smith of Fox Sports. "We wrecked on lap two. They did an amazing job fixing this car. I can't thank everyone enough."

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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