Daniel Suárez heated with Erik Jones during on-track incident in Bristol Night Race
A little bit of drama when Daniel Suárez can’t really afford it. He’s getting into it on the track with Erik Jones at Bristol. Jones cut down in front of Suárez and that sent the Trackhouse Racing driver off.
Daniel Suárez is sitting a few points inside of the cutline right now three laps down. That isn’t stopping him from getting into it with Jones on the track, though.
The 99 team probably doesn’t love seeing this from their driver. He has to keep his cool the rest of the night if he wants to make the Round of 12.
This is a ridiculously risky move from Daniel Suárez. He has to have the patience and mindfulness to know that he can’t get himself wrecked tonight. He is on a fragile points cushion. Three laps down, that’s not where a playoff driver wants to be in the elimination race.
Tonight, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Larson all locked into the next round before the end of the race. Harrison Burton is out of the running, he can’t make it at this point. There are 11 drivers who are vulnerable if a big mistake or wreck were to happen, though.
Daniel Suárez built up a good points cushion. He has to be focused and realize what is at risk tonight. Jones cut him off, that sucks. Get over it. Falling back just a few more spots, or Ty Gibbs advancing a few positions, could make all the difference.
When you are talking about single digits on the cutline, that is dangerous. That is the kind of territory where one bad pit stop could ruin your night, let alone trading paint with a driver for 31st place.
Daniel Suárez can’t afford a mistake
Even though Daniel Suárez is in 31st place, he is in position to advance. That is thanks to his work at Atlanta and Watkins Glen. Trackhouse Racing has done a great job preparing this 99 team for this round and it has paid off.
This was the one race they would be worried about. Suárez has a terrible record at Bristol. But by picking up so many points in the first two races, he came into the race with a cushion that he has now almost used up.
It is a race between the 99 and the 54 of Gibbs. The young second-year Cup Series driver is trying his best to move up if Suárez isn’t going to fall much further back. Gibbs could finish P5 in this race tonight and now advance. At P8, Gibbs is still five points down to Suárez.
Daniel Suárez is doing what he has to do. It isn’t pretty, but racing isn’t always pretty. The 99 team only wants a spot in the Round of 12 and a chance to make it further in the postseason.