The Coca-Cola 600 was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on Sunday, May 24.
Palpable throughout the evening was the absence of one of NASCAR‘s greats: the late Kyle Busch.
At the age of 41, Kyle died on May 21, leaving behind his wife, Samantha; and their two children, Brexton (age 11) and Lennix (age 4).
His death, just three days before the race, led to his life and legacy being foregrounded at the race, with NASCAR fans, drivers, and management taking a moment to honor the late two-time champion.
Even the winner of the race, Daniel Suárez, honored the late Kyle Busch with his victory.
What Daniel Suárez Said Of His Victory In Light Of Kyle Busch’s Passing
By the end of the race, it was raining heavily.
Earlier in the evening, last year’s winner, Ross Chastain, crashed as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. advanced.
Watch that crash, here:
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. takes out Ross Chastain. pic.twitter.com/XRy04Jc1cV
— Racing Territory (@RacingTerritory) May 25, 2026
However, with 27 laps to go, Daniel Suárez was declared the winner.
“It really means a lot,” Suárez said immediately after the race.
Donning a hat with the No. 8, in honor of Kyle Busch, he pointed to the number and then pointed to Heaven above.
Asked what winning meant in light of Kyle’s death on May 21, Suárez said, “It’s been a tough week … Kyle, he was special, man. We won it for Kyle, for Samantha, for Brexton, for Lennix. For all his family.”
He added, “Every win is special, but this one has a special flavor because of Kyle. This one is for Kyle.”
Watch his dedication to Kyle Busch, here:
This win carried special significance for Daniel Suárez ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dMVQ3OTMVz
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) May 25, 2026
Watch Suárez’ victory, including him pointing to Heaven, here:
A moment Daniel Suárez will never forget ❤️ pic.twitter.com/YPpCSYULBd
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) May 25, 2026
