Suarez ‘very proud’ to join Stewart-Haas Racing

Daniel Suarez will pilot the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2019 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the team officially announced Monday.

Suarez replaces Kurt Busch, who will drive the No. 1 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing this year.

“I’m very proud to call myself part of this family, and I’m really looking forward to working hard with my new crew chief Billy Scott and the rest of the guys to put the 41 Ford Mustang up front and hopefully to win some races,” Suarez said in a media teleconference.

The announcement comes on Suarez’s 27th birthday.

Suarez competed in the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017 and 2018. He won the 2016 Xfinity Series championship for the organization.

Suarez will join Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick at the four-car organization.

In 72 starts in NASCAR’s premier series, Suarez has earned four top-five finishes, 21 top-10 finishes, one pole and a highest championship finish of 20th in 2017.