Daniel Suarez talks 2026 NASCAR plans amid forthcoming Trackhouse split
CHICAGO — For the first time since it was announced, Daniel Suarez opened up about his forthcoming split from Trackhouse Racing in NASCAR.
Heading into the Chicago Street Course race weekend and coming off of a wreck at Atlanta, Suarez announced the split on social media.
MORE: Daniel Suarez to leave Trackhouse Racing after 2025
“It was a relief,” Suarez said. “Things change, people change and that’s okay. Nothing wrong with that. There was just wasn’t, a, love, but there is no hard feelings at all. We had two amazing years together and it’s time for a change.”
Suarez elaborated on his relief with how long this has been coming.
“It’s been hard the last six months because I wasn’t happy anymore,” Suarez said.
After 18 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025, Suarez is 29th in points with a second-place finish at Las Vegas and top 10 finishes at Talladega and Texas. At this point last season, he was 11 spots higher in points and had a win at Atlanta to lock him into the playoffs.
Although he hasn’t won in the Cup Series, Suarez isn’t winless this season. In front of a home crowd at Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Suarez won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race — quelling a 19th-place Cup finish there.
With Trackhouse prospect and JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch shaping up to be Suarez’s replacement, many people floated the idea of Suarez effectively swapping rides with Zilisch in 2026.
As of now, Suarez isn’t keen on a move like that.
“In my mind, I have nothing to prove in Xfinity. I had one of the best weekends in Mexico City. I hadn’t been in a competitive car since 2016 and I love the series but I want to compete with the best of the best. That’s why I wake up every morning, is to compete with the best of the best, so that’s what we want to do,” Suarez said.
Suarez has two Cup wins — at Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta in 2024 — and playoff appearances in each year to boot. He also has sponsorship to further boost his chances of getting a Cup ride in 2026.
“I feel like I’m in the best moment of my career on track and off track. I have great partners who follow me everywhere. With everything happening in Mexico and here in the U.S., with the Hispanic market growing so much, I feel blessed to be the face of it. I think we’re going to be fine,” Suarez said.
With the announcement public, the 2026 season really begins for Suarez.
“I’m confident in that but I couldn’t talk to anyone until this week. We’ve been working to find new options and find something,” Suarez said.
Still, Suarez and his team have a championship to race for.
“We have the rest of the season to run and I love the 99 team. They’re the best team I have ever had,” Suarez said.
Ryan Kemna contributed to this report.
Discover more from The Racing Experts
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com
I think he take the first car that’s open to drive next season in cup
It’ll be interesting to see where he lands. The 7 Spire ride has been in the conversation but that seems to be changing, with some recent rumors coming out about them maybe trying to get Corey Heim? All rumors at this point… but interesting to think about, especially for Suarez.
I think after the finishing position in 7 place at Walking Glen road course might have helped him a bunch on the getting a ride next year spire motorsports will see Saturday if he can keep up where he finished at walk-in Glen at the next race this weekend on Saturday evening Daniel Suarez