Daniel Suarez Faces Crucial Season: Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez, the sole driver of Mexican descent in NASCAR’s top tier, encountered a challenging 2023 season. Piloting the #99 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the Cup Series, Suarez faced a notable setback, failing to secure a spot in the postseason playoffs, while his teammate Ross Chastain succeeded in doing so.
Throughout the 2023 campaign, the 31-year-old driver from Monterrey, Mexico found himself unable to clinch a victory, a stark contrast to Chastain’s playoff appearance and a remarkable season-ending win at Phoenix.
Amid Chastain’s triumph being somewhat overshadowed by Ryan Blaney’s championship glory, Suarez’s struggle throughout the year was unmistakable. Vocal sentiments from fans have emerged, highlighting the pivotal year ahead for Suarez’s career. One fan, expressing concern on social media, stressed, “Suarez’s job (and career) are on the line in 2024. He has to win, maybe multiple times. Deep playoff run.”
Acknowledging the speed flashes and sporadic challenges faced by Suarez, another fan noted, “He had some amazing speed at times this year, but also the complete opposite at times. Bad luck and things out of his control are mostly why he missed the playoffs, but he still needs to prove he can win again.”
With contrasting opinions echoing within the fan base, an ardent supporter mentioned, “As a Suarez fan, he has a LOT to prove. He has competition for his ride now in SVG and Zane Smith.
Comparing statistics from his breakthrough 2022 season, the #99 Chevy driver appeared to have faced regression in almost every aspect. His best finish this year, a third-place spot, came at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, underscoring his struggle for consistent performance, evident in his final P19 points standing for the season.
Trackhouse Racing‘s landscape appears to be evolving swiftly, with potentially three charters in their arsenal. As the team eyes prospects like Shane van Gisbergen’s anticipated 2025 debut and Zane Smith vying for a Cup Series seat, Suarez faces mounting pressure to validate his position.
In direct comparison, Ross Chastain seemed to have outperformed Suarez throughout the season. The upcoming Cup Series presents a critical juncture for Suarez’s career in NASCAR, challenging him to respond and redefine his narrative on the track.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Has Daniel Suarez ever won a race?
In a historic moment, Suárez made history by becoming the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race. He achieved this feat at Sonoma Raceway on June 12, 2022, after 195 starts. Suárez’s racing career has been nothing short of impressive, having won the Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year award in 2015 and the series championship in 2016. His achievements have cemented his place as one of the most talented drivers in the sport.
Are there any Hispanic Nascar drivers?
Several current and former drivers have participated in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, including some who have achieved success on the track. Only two drivers born in Latin-American countries, Juan Pablo Montoya from Colombia and Daniel Suárez from Mexico, have won in the Cup Series. Their victories serve as a testament to the program’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in the sport.
Who owns the 99 car in Nascar?
Car #99 has an impressive track record, having participated in 1,216 races and clinching 49 wins, 24 poles, 277 top 5s, and 481 top 10s. This year, the car was fielded by Trackhouse Racing, a promising team allied with RCR and owned by former Xfinity Series driver Justin Marks. Daniel Suarez was the skilled driver behind the wheel, making for an exciting and competitive season.
What car does Suarez drive?
As a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series, he can be found behind the wheel of the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro for the Trackhouse Racing Team. Prior to this, he honed his skills in the NASCAR Toyota Series in Mexico with Telcel Racing, and also participated in the K&N Pro Series East as part of the Drive for Diversity program with Rev Racing.
