NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 takeaways: Daniel Suarez uses late strategy call to perfection in win at Charlotte

In a race dominated by Toyota on Sunday, Daniel Suarez took advantage of a late two-tire call and maintained his track position when the skies opened, claiming the Coca-Cola 600 in a rain-shortened finish.

Here are four takeaways from NASCAR's longest race.

Daniel Suarez plays strategy call to perfection

Despite losing a lap in the opening stage, the door opened for Suarez when crew chief Ryan Sparks elected to go with two tires on Lap 356 during a brief caution for lightning. 

Suarez held his own on the ensuing restart before rain halted the action just two laps after the racing resumed. One more restart followed after a nearly eight-minute red flag, but even with Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell giving him everything they had, Suarez was not to be denied.

The win snaps an 82-race winless streak for Suarez dating back to his second career victory at EchoPark Speedway in February 2024. It is also the third win for Spire Motorsports and the second in the last four points-paying races after Carson Hocevar's breakthrough at Talladega.

Overall, it was a weekend full of rain and delays as the sport also dealt with the sudden passing of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch due to a sudden illness. Suarez dedicated the win to him afterward and did not let the rain stop him from celebrating an emotional victory.

Shane van Gisbergen impresses

While Hamlin, Bell and Tyler Reddick combined to lead 238 laps and had the cars to beat throughout the night, the New Zealander was a pleasant surprise in 11th.

That finish does not do enough justice for how well he performed. Coming into the race, van Gisbergen's average running position on ovals this season was 25th. He improved that tremendously to 7.8 at Charlotte, running among the contenders the majority of the race. 

That type of performance should concern the rest of the field if Trackhouse Racing's overall pace improves and van Gisbergen continues to gain some more confidence.

Katherine Legge's 'Double' attempt ends with more issues

Legge began her day with a last-place finish (33rd) in the Indianapolis 500 after getting collected in a crash just 18 laps into the race. Her busy day concluded with a 31st-place finish at Charlotte in a race that was plagued by her right-front wheel coming off on Lap 209.

To be fair, Legge was never expected to be anywhere near contention in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, a part-time entry that typically runs at the back of the field. However, it was an unfortunate day all around as she became just the sixth driver all-time — and only female — to attempt the Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 "Double," only to encounter issues in both races.

NASCAR honors Kyle Busch 

Sunday marked the first Cup Series race since the shocking death of Busch, and the tributes and heartfelt memories were endless as the sport honored its all-time winningest driver. 

From placing his No. 8 atop the scoring pylon leading up to the race and countless stories from drivers and those within the industry to a touching pre-race tribute and a silent Lap 8 in honor of his memory, the sport did its best to honor a legend of the sport gone far too soon.