A simple question: Where are races won in NASCAR? Naturally, you’d say, ‘Duh, the racetrack.’ But, contrary to popular belief, in NASCAR, races aren’t just won on the track; they’re won on pit road. A flawless stop can leapfrog a driver from mid-pack to the front in seconds. Just look at Darlington 2025, where Denny Hamlin’s blistering 9.4-second stop launched him from third to first with four laps to go, sealing a dramatic win.
But as vital as pit stops are, they come with serious risks. A mistimed move or a stray tire can turn routine service into a dangerous situation. That reality struck hard at Bristol during the Food City 500. Suárez endured a rough day on track, finishing 33rd, but what nearly happened to his pit crew was far scarier. One loose tire came within inches of disaster, reminding everyone just how unforgiving this sport can be.
A close call for the #99 pit crew
Loose wheel incidents have been a recurring issue in the 2025 NASCAR season. Just take a look at the Las Vegas race. First, Kyle Busch’s loose wheel caused him to crash into the wall. This ended his day early and resulted in penalties for his crew. Then, Chase Briscoe also suffered from a loose wheel at the same event, jeopardizing his race and leading to similar penalties.
The situation came to a head during Sunday’s Ford City 500 at Bristol. Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 Trackhouse Racing crew experienced a heart-stopping moment. As they serviced the car, a rogue front wheel tire from John Hunter Nemechek’s Toyota came barreling down pit road. In a split second, Suarez’s crew had to react as the tire headed straight for them.
One crew member narrowly avoided disaster, fleeing as the loose tire clipped the back of Suárez’s Chevrolet. It even appeared to bounce briefly into another team member, though fortunately, no one was injured. Remarkably, amid the chaos, the crew stayed composed. They shoved the tire aside and finished the pit stop without missing a beat.
Suárez later addressed the incident on social media. “So glad none of my guys got hurt by that tire, especially Seth and Milan,” he posted on X. Seth Gajdorus is the rear changer for Suárez, whereas Milan Rudanovic works as the fueler. Suárez’s post served as a reminder of how quickly pit road can turn dangerous and how the human element behind these races faces risks far beyond on-track battles.
After a race like today’s, this video puts everything into perspective! So glad none of my guys got hurt by that tire, especially Seth and Milan #nascar #pitstop #bristolmotorspeedway #foodcity500 pic.twitter.com/ZwSvt6L0rp
— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) April 13, 2025
“That was really, really lucky that that tire did not hit that crew member,” Kevin Harvick remarked on the FS1 broadcast. Fellow commentator Clint Bowyer joked about keeping the tire as a souvenir. But behind the humor was genuine relief that a serious accident had been averted in a notoriously hazardous pit road environment.
While the pit stop turned out to be safe in the end, the result was less than satisfactory for Suarez, who saw his fourth consecutive race without a top-10 finish this season!
A forgettable outing for Daniel Suárez amid Larson’s dominance at Bristol
Daniel Suárez’s weekend at Bristol was one he’d rather forget. After a topsy-turvy start to the 2025 season, a second-place finish at Las Vegas ignited hope. However, Suárez struggled throughout the Food City 500 as he finished 33rd, six laps down, marking his worst result since a DNF at Circuit of The Americas earlier this year. In addition to the near-miss, Suárez’s team was hit with a removing equipment penalty for a separate violation.
While Suárez grappled with misfortune, Kyle Larson delivered a masterclass in short-track racing. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 411 of 500 laps, securing his second win of the season and 31st career victory. Larson’s performance was so dominant that he reversed the trend of finishing second to Denny Hamlin in their previous six 1-2 finishes, beating Hamlin by 2.25 seconds.
Hamlin, aiming for a third consecutive win, settled for second place, acknowledged Larson’s prowess, stating, “Just a dominant performance. Looked like a pretty flawless day for them.” Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five with three drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing, as they continue to consistently contend for wins.
As the series moves forward, Suárez and his team will look to rebound from Bristol’s setbacks. Daniel Suárez heads to Talladega in two weeks on a tough streak. To make matters worse, the superspeedway’s never been kind to him. Suárez is 0-for-16 on top-five finishes there in his Cup Series career. Could Talladega finally be merciful to Suárez and be the place where Suárez turns his season around? Let us know in the comments!
The post Daniel Suárez Looks Beyond His Horrendous Finish After Pit Crew Narrowly Escapes Horror Accident at Bristol appeared first on EssentiallySports.