Close but not close enough for Suarez in Las Vegas

Daniel Suarez needed a longer run to end Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to potentially hold off Josh Berry for the victory in the Pennzoil 400.

The race restarted for the final time with 19 laps to go. Suarez, the race leader, controlled the pace until Berry got underneath him with 16 laps to go. It took nearly three laps before Berry was able to complete the pass.

Suarez finished second. It was a strong result for the team and a much-needed one, as Suarez’s best finish in the previous four races was 13th in the Daytona 500.

“It just sucks to be that close,” he said. “Sometimes I feel like third feels better than second, but that’s part of it. I’m very proud of everybody at Trackhouse — the 1 team also, for working together right there with me. We did everything in our power, I feel like, there at the end. We just needed to be a little bit better in the short run.”

The final caution set up Suarez’s run for the win. He was running third behind Joey Logano and Berry when the caution flew with 23 laps to go. The yellow put the field on the same strategy by eliminating a potential fuel mileage finish.

After the final pit stops, Suarez came off pit road with the race lead after a four-tire stop from his No. 99 team. It allowed him to restart on the front row with Berry. Logano was taken out of the picture by a slow stop.

Clean air was an advantage, but the short run and the No. 99’s handling were disadvantages. That’s where Berry beat Suarez.

“I was just having a little bit too much on the ground in 1 and 2, and that’s where he got me,” Suarez said. “I was just too fast up front and too much contact, and eventually he was putting pressure on me, so I had to push harder, and the car just bottomed out and I almost wrecked. Right at the end, I felt like I was just as fast as him, but the first five laps were my weakness, and unfortunately, we lost the race there.

“But a lot of good things from today. A lot of things to be proud of. A good day to build off.”

Suarez led the way for Trackhouse Racing in Las Vegas. He led teammate Ross Chastain to the finish as the No. 1 finished fifth. Both drivers led laps; Suarez 12 and Chastain 14. Both drivers drove to the front from qualifying in the mid-pack, with Suarez having an average running position of 8.6 and Chastain 11.4.

“It was good; definitely very important, especially for the 99,” Suarez said. “I think the 1 has had a couple of decent results lately, but the 99 has been running very well lately, and we’ve been getting wrecked for one reason , so definitely solid.”