LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Despite an array of setbacks this weekend at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Daniel Suarez earned his first career top-10 finish in Saturday afternoon’s Boyd Gaming 300.
Suarez battled through a stomach bug Friday which saw Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth shakedown his ride, until taking over near the end of the session. The stomach bug subsided on race day allowing the former NASCAR K&N Pro Series standout to qualify his car 15th.
After losing a lap to a dominate Austin Dillon midway through the race and under green flag conditions, crew chief Eric Phillips elected to leave his rookie driver on the racetrack when final green flag stops flew just 40 laps shy of the finish.
The gamble paid off when Mario Gosselin spun off Turn 2 issuing the event’s fourth caution flag of the afternoon and allowing Suarez to circle back onto the lead lap and pit under caution.
With rejuvenated confidence, the Monterey, Mexico native found himself back on the lead lap and while still battling adversity with an oil leak and smoke from underneath the No. 18 ARRIS Toyota Camry, Suarez held on to claim 10th, earning his best finish in XFINITY competition in his fifth career start.
“It was a tough weekend, but we were able to work hard and score a top-10,” said Suarez. “I had some health problems that kept me out of much of the first practice, but I’m lucky my Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth helped shake out the car for me.
“Today, I felt much better and my team worked super hard to score that finish. I think we’re learning a lot every week and I’m very grateful to everyone at ARRIS, Toyota and Telcel for the opportunity. This first top-10 was hard fought and I hope to score more in the coming weeks and year.”
After a rocky start to the season at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Suarez has made steady gains in the two races since. A solid 14th place finish at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway last Saturday and his worthy performance in Sin City have the rookie driver eager to make more gains.
And it’s been more just about experience for Suarez, the communication with crew chief Eric Phillips is proving to pay its own dividends – even though just three races into a young 33-race schedule.
The ability for Suarez to react and move forward with Phillips changes proves they are heading in the right direction and the momentum should only further carry to Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway next weekend, where he has three starts in the K&N Series West including a third in 2012.
The 23-year old climbed seven positions in the championship point standings and now sits 13th, 49 points behind leader Ty Dillon.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
