NASCAR’s epic finish in Atlanta: One for the history books

Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway delivered one of the most breathtaking finishes in recent history.

Daniel Suarez, after a tumultuous start and significant damage to his car, surged to the front in a thrilling final restart.

The final lap was a jaw-dropping three-wide battle as Suarez, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Busch hurtled towards the finish line.

The Trackhouse Racing charger's #99 Chevrolet Camaro emerged victorious by a mere 0.003 seconds, the third closest finish in the history of NASCAR. It was a career-defining moment for the Mexican and one that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

“It was so damn close, man! It was so damn close,” an emotional Suarez said after the race. “It was good racing. Ryan Blaney there, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric also was doing a great job giving pushes.

“We wrecked lap 2. The guys did an amazing job fixing this car. I can’t thank everyone enough … all the amazing fans here. Let’s go!”

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.