LAS VEGAS, Nev.: A week after earning an impressive top-five finish at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway, Daniel Suárez bid to make it back-to-back top-five finishes at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway was foiled after Suarez found himself an innocent victim in a crash during Sunday’s Pennzoil 400.
While racing for 12th in the early laps of Stage 2, Erik Jones and Michael McDowell were racing hard for position, but McDowell’s Ford Mustang broke loose and slid into Chase Briscoe on the high lane.
As Briscoe tried to keep his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang out of the wall, he collided with Suarez’s No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 which shot the 2016 Xfinity Series champion int the frontstretch wall causing extensive damage to his Tootsie’s automobile.
Suarez was able to climb from his vehicle uninjured but would be credited with a last place finish in 37th.
A frustrated Suarez emerged from the infield care center where he explained he didn’t understand what initially happened to take him out of the race.
“I haven’t seen the replay yet, so I’m not sure what happened,” said Suarez. “I do know that the No. 14 (Chase Briscoe) clipped me in the right rear. The reason why, I don’t know.
“I don’t know what to say. He got loose and he clipped me. He didn’t do it intentionally, but it was unfortunate.”
After jumping to 15th in Cup Series points following Auto Club, the Monterrey Mexico native slipped to 25th in the standings after three races.
Suarez and his Travis Mack led team will look to next weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway for a recovery. Last year, Suarez finished 21st in both races, respectively.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
