Toyota drivers led 289 of 373 laps in Sunday’s rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, however it was a Chevrolet driver, Daniel Suarez, who received the race.
It was evident from the drop of the inexperienced flag that Toyota had an edge over Ford and Chevrolet in Sunday’s occasion. Daytona 500 champion and Cup Sequence factors chief Tyler Reddick led seven instances for a race-high 119 circuits, whereas Stage 2 winner Denny Hamlin led 75 laps and Stage 3 winner Christopher Bell spent 44 laps out entrance.
Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs additionally led 34 and 17 laps every, respectively.
However when the chips had been down, it was Suarez in his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevy who held off Bell and Hamlin on the race’s ultimate restarts and walked away with a crown jewel win.
Bell and Hamlin completed Stage 3 1-2 and gave the impression to be in a battle for the win till Suarez took two tires on a late pit cease to snag the highest spot. After a powerful effort to carry the lead, Suarez watched as Bell and Hamlin raced arduous for second.
That tough racing was sufficient to provide Suarez a niche till the sky opened up and introduced the race-ending rain down on Charlotte Motor Speedway.
What dominant Toyota drivers stated
“Dang it, I used to be slightly unluck,” Hamlin stated. “Clearly me and the 20 had been battling actually arduous… I believed the automotive was actually quick and will make strikes and saved getting apart the 20 however couldn’t fairly clear him and make a transfer on the 7. We had been actually, actually good all day. I believed we had been at our greatest when it actually mattered on the finish, simply didn’t get to see it by.”
Hamlin, who received the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover on Could 17, has just one points-paying win (Las Vegas) to his credit score in 2026 regardless of having arguably the quickest automotive in races at Martinsville, Kansas and Texas earlier in 2026. He sits second within the Cup Sequence standings, 122 factors behind Reddick.
Reddick fell to fourth after beginning the race from the pole. He is the one driver in 2026 with 10 high 10 finishes and no less than seven high fives.
“In all probability probably the most we’ve led within the Coca-Cola 600,” Reddick stated. “I do know racing for factors, there’s a pair on the calendar the place it’s all concerning the win, and that is one among them. This one simply stings.”
Sunday was simply the second time in Reddick’s Cup profession he is led no less than 100 laps in a race.
Bell, in the meantime, had arguably his finest race of 2026 on Sunday. He completed runner-up and rose three spots to eighth within the collection standings after the Coke 600.
“Wasn’t meant to be immediately,” Bell stated. That’s 2026 for us.”
Gibbs was arguably the least spectacular JGR driver on Sunday however nonetheless got here dwelling sixth and set the quickest lap of the race. Briscoe, in the meantime, completed thirty fourth after being concerned in a crash however nonetheless sits inside the Chase image midway by the common season.
“I believed we may have received the race,” Gibbs stated. “We had been actually succesful at doing it. Obtained the lead on the finish, and simply unlucky.”
In contrast to on the Daytona 500, luck was not on Toyota’s aspect in Sunday’s crown jewel race.
