From the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series, Daniel Suárez has made history and broken down barriers during his time with NASCAR. That includes becoming the first foreign-born driver to win a major championship after taking home the Xfinity Series title in 2016. While he’s a well-known name for race fans, his time in the Cup Series has been a little more rocky. He has spent the last few seasons with Trackhouse Racing, and the recent announcement of his departure has people speculating about where he could go next.
Like most big racers, Suárez started his career in karting. He alternated between what’s now the ARCA series and the Toyota Series. In 2015, he was given his first big break when he was taken in by Joe Gibbs Racing, where he won the rookie of the year title. In 2016, Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national touring series with the Xfinity Series Championship.
JGR moved Suárez to the Cup Series the year after his Xfinity success. He won his first career Cup Series pole the next year in Pocono, but struggled to stay consistent, only getting three top-five and nine top-ten finishes. He left the team at the end of that season. Many fans agree that his lack of success could have come from Joe Gibbs’ push to get him into the Cup Series too quickly.
Suárez jumped through two more teams in 2019 and 2020. He raced for Steward-Haas, and despite some controversy and a fight on pit road in Phoenix, his driving seemed to improve. He didn’t get a playoff chance that year and was let go from the team. He went to Gaunt Brothers Racing the next year, but a series of mechanical issues and crashes kept him largely off the track. He left GBR and made his way to Trackhouse.
Suárez joined Trackhouse in 2021, driving the No. 99. It was a make-or-break year for Suárez, and many people thought he could end the season without a seat if he didn’t do well. While it took a while for the team to gel, his reputation grew, and he was starting to be known on pit road for his competitiveness. He became the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race in 2022, and made playoff appearances that year and in 2024.
Suárez is one of the drivers picked for Trackhouse specifically for their inaugural season in 2021. While this might mean some special treatment, it’s understandable why the team wants to part ways with the driver. Trackhouse is now an extremely popular team with many other drivers on their roster. Those names include Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, both cup race winners this year, and Connor Zilisch, who has been making waves in the Xfinity Series.
While Suárez might have some successes, his overall results in points and playoff opportunities just aren’t cutting it. The highest he’s ever sat in the standings is 10th, and while he has had his time standing out in the metrics, those highs don’t last.
Suárez has some options when it comes to finding a new team. In the Cup Series, Kaulig Racing is currently the only viable option. This would come down to Ty Dillon’s contract, but it’s rumored that he could be out of a seat with the team next year. The team isn’t exactly considered stable, and has yet to have a true flagship driver. They could place their bets on Suárez.
It’s not just Cup Series teams that could have their sights on the Mexican-born driver. JR Motorsports has reportedly looked into picking up the driver. The team, owned by former driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., races in the Xfinity Series. They’re even considered one of the best teams in the series. Suárez could take a spot with the team and run with it, allowing for more weekend victories.
Suárez says he’s leaving Trackhouse without any hard feelings. It only seems fair that he allows this to roll off his back, as he’s been known to take a spot on new teams during NASCAR’s silly season. While he’s a good driver, it’s not surprising that he’s losing the seat. When compared to his teammates, Suárez doesn’t have the same kind of success or notoriety that Chastain or SVG have gotten for themselves. It could also be the fact that JGR forced him into a Cup car before he was ready. Maybe some time with Earnhardt will help give him the confidence he needs to succeed.
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