Pit strategy nearly made for a breakthrough victory for Daniel Suárez and Trackhouse Racing on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
After a pit stop by the No. 99 Chevrolet team got Suárez out front, the veteran driver restarted on the front row with 20 laps to go.
While he was able to hang on for a handful of laps, the powerful drive by Josh Berry proved to be too much to hold back as Suárez was unable to hold off the No. 21 Ford.
Suárez would be forced to settle for second, his best finish of the season.
“Definitely a little disappointed, but first of all, congratulations to Josh Berry and the No. 21 team,” Suárez said. “They did a great job and they’ve been fast. The No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevy team did everything right. The pit crew did an amazing job with the pit stops. We did everything right with the strategy.
“Our Chevy was fast, but we just struggled a little bit on the short runs. I mentioned to my crew chief – before the last run, I told him that if we’re going to be up front, we’re going to need a better car for the short run. I was having too much contact over there in (turns) one and two. Unfortunately, I think that’s why we lost the race. We just had a little bit too much contact. I almost wrecked in (turns) one and two.”
Despite not having the short-run speed to contend for a victory, Suárez believes the team’s showing at Las Vegas could be a sign of things to come as they look to continue improving.
Prior to the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, the team’s best finish was 13th at the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway.
But overall, just very, very proud of everyone at Trackhouse Racing,” Suárez said. “The entire organization has been working very hard and it’s showing.
“Thank you to Chevrolet, Freeway Insurance, Coca-Cola, Quaker State – all of our partners that help us to get to the track every weekend. It was a solid effort.”
