‘Everyone Called It Wrong’: Kyle Petty Puts Daniel Suarez’s Photo Finish on Par With Grandfather’s Historic Daytona Triumph

The dramatic finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday was a carbon copy of the iconic finish by Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp at Daytona back in 1959. It was a photo finish, with Beauchamp and Lee Petty crossing the finish line at the same time. However, there was a third musketeer in the mix, Joe Weatherly, who, despite running a lap behind, provided one of the most iconic three-wide finishes in NASCAR’s history.

There was nothing from the current era similar to that iconic finish from back in the day. But after Daniel Suarez’s triumph in Atlanta, it seems like we’ve got a new picture-perfect frame for NASCAR. One that even Kyle Petty believes he rates above his grandfather’s iconic finish from 1959. For those who missed out on the dramatic finish last Sunday, Kyle Petty’s symphony of descriptions of the race would somehow allow you to relive those exact moments.

Kyle Petty scripting NASCAR folklore through his words

Three wides, side by side. Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Busch, all three competing for the win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Unlike Weatherly’s feature, who was not in contention to win the race back in the day alongside Lee Petty and Beauchamp, perhaps this was the reason that allowed Kyle to reach the conclusion of rating Suarez’s finish as the most memorable finish in the history of the sport.

Speaking on NASCAR’s YouTube channel, Kyle Petty penned down the best-ever summary of a race finish. He said, “So it’s three wide side by side and with this car because of the aerodynamics that we all complain about, they stall out and they come to the line side by side. 003 thousands of a second, you could throw a blanket over them that’s it, nobody knew. Everybody called it wrong if you listen to radio or watching it on TV.

“Everyone called it wrong. Daniel Suarez takes home the win in dramatic fashion. This photo is going to replace the Lee Petty, Johnny Beauchamp and Joe Weatherly photo from Daytona. Yes that’s a historic photo but this will be a milestone and a mile marker to take us forward in the sport,” he went on to conclude.

Read More: Awestruck Richard Petty Drops 3-Word Verdict on Daniel Suarez’s Atlanta Photo Finish

What were the odds of Suarez winning the race ahead of the event? He wouldn’t be the horse that most of us would have bet on, but still, the No. 99 from Trackhouse Racing took home the historic win. A win that perhaps would clear any doubts about his future with his team.

Daniel Suarez’s redemption was in style

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From a torrid 2023 NASCAR season without a race win, down and questioned, to now securing a playoff spot in just the second race of the season, Suarez has come a long way. While there was no confirmation by the Trackhouse team about this year being his do-or-die season, there was pressure on the shoulder of the Mexican driver. And to his relief and that of his team owner, Justin Marks, he has proven his critics wrong and turned a corner in his NASCAR career.

Interestingly, Suarez is in his final year of the contract and has yet to be offered a renewal. However, according to Marks, it is something that he and his team are looking into and is not a big concern for Suarez. “Yes this a contract year for Daniel, does that mean this is Daniel’s audition? No… I mean the hot seat, he just didn’t have the year that he wanted last year. But we know that he can get it done and he’s a guy that can get it done. So, I don’t envision necessarily a situation where Daniel is not a driver in Trackhouse Racing.”

Hot seat or not, Daniel Suarez, with a win at Atlanta, has proven his mettle as a race car driver and will now look to build on this win throughout the season.