NASCAR really stirred the pot by lining up two superspeedway races one after the other to kick off the 2024 season. And boy, Sunday did deliver a dose of chaos with a photo finish that’ll have folks talking for ages. They even had to pull out shots and side photos to call the winner.

Daniel Suarez was the driver who broke through the madness, winning in a heart-stopping three-wide finish at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, ending his 57-race drought. But word on the street from a NASCAR insider is that Suarez isn’t out of the woods yet, with rumors swirling about him possibly getting benched mid-season.

Despite a great Atlanta win, is Daniel Suarez’s time up?

In the heat of that final lap, Ryan Blaney was zooming ahead until Suarez, hugging the wall, snatched the lead. Then, out of nowhere, Kyle Busch wedges between them. Suarez using some slick aerodynamics, makes it a three-car dash to the finish line right off Turn 4. It was so close that NASCAR had to squint at the photos to call it. And just like that, Suarez edged out by a whisker – just .003 seconds ahead of Blaney, nabbing his second career victory, his first since 2022. This nail-biter is officially one for the history books as the third-tightest finish ever.

But even this jaw-dropping win might not keep Suarez’s seat warm for the whole season. According to NASCAR’s own Brett Griffin, if Suarez doesn’t snag a permanent spot in the #99 car, there might be some musical chairs with him and Zane Smith, considering all the contract juggling at Track House. Griffin’s worried it’s a tight squeeze with more drivers than seats available, hinting someone will be left standing when the music stops.

Could be Smith, could be SVG, or even Suarez. Griffin thinks Suarez needs another win under his belt to really lock in his spot. He said, “Charter-Wise Track House has way more Drivers than they have charters. So that tells me somebody’s scr*wed. It’s either somebody that, like a Zane Smith or SVG or at Suarez.”

Despite not being Mr. Lucky at Daytona or Talladega, Suarez has a solid track record at Atlanta, making it crucial for him to bag another win pronto to keep riding in the #99.

Yet, it seems like there’s no rush from the team’s side. Justin Marks cleared the air, saying this year wasn’t a trial run for Suarez. So, for now, it looks like he’s not sweating bullets over his spot.

Justin Marks is all in on his Atlanta champ

Trending

Michael Jordan & Co’s Rebellion Left Hanging as ‘Silent’ NASCAR Worsens Bubba Wallace’s Career Fears

“Wasn’t Any of Our Fault”- Ross Chastain Distances Himself From Cup Star’s Watkins Glen Shame Leaving Martin Truex Jr Livid

Joey Logano Belittles Watkins Glen as NASCAR’s Favor to the Drivers Gets Overlooked by the Penske Man

Juan Pablo Montoya Drops 3-Word Verdict on NASCAR Return Amid Next-Gen Fears

Dejected Michael Jordan Star Calls Out NASCAR’s Mexican Speedster After Awry Glen Outing

After a dry spell last year, while his teammate Ross Chastain was racking up wins, there were murmurs about Daniel Suarez’s place at Trackhouse Racing, especially with his contract winding down. As the team expanded, the rumor mill went into overdrive. But Justin Marks, the man at the helm, was quick to shut that down, affirming Suarez’s solid spot on the team.

Shaking off the rumors, Marks made his stance clear after the race, saying, “On 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. I don’t envision necessarily a situation where Daniel is not a driver for Trackhouse Racing.”

Doubling down during a SiriusXM NASCAR interview, Marks didn’t mince words, “We never, ever lost faith in Daniel Suarez. […] He’s a phenomenal driver, and he’s right where he belongs – winning races with us.”

Now, with eyes on Las Vegas – a track that hasn’t been too kind to Suarez – if he can ride the wave from his Atlanta win, there’s a good chance he could flip the script in Vegas and smash another unlucky streak.

Read More: Daniel Suarez’s Owner Addresses His ‘Hot Seat’ Rumor and Discusses the Mexican’s Future