Daniel Suarez leaves Trackhouse Racing at the close of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, marking the end of a pivotal partnership and sparking speculation about the future of both the driver and the team. The mutual decision, confirmed today, comes as Trackhouse Racing faces significant lineup changes and positions itself for upcoming challenges, while Suarez looks to turn the page on a defining chapter in his racing career.
Suarez’s Tenure with Trackhouse: Highs, Lows, and Growing Pressure
Daniel Suarez originally joined Trackhouse Racing in 2021, taking the wheel for the organization’s debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. He quickly established himself as a central figure within the team, clinching Trackhouse’s inaugural victory at Sonoma in 2022. However, in the seasons following that breakthrough, consistent wins proved elusive for Suarez, especially after a drought that extended beyond his Atlanta victory in 2024.
Meanwhile, his teammates, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, were achieving playoff-clinching wins, putting additional pressure on Suarez to deliver. By the 2025 season, Suarez found himself 29th in the series standings, registering only a single top-five and three top-ten finishes, making his position within the organization uncertain. Throughout the year, whispers of change grew louder as emerging talent Connor Zilisch impressed both fans and leadership, and the team faced internal shifts following the departure of part-owner Pitbull.
Candid in interviews, Suarez acknowledged the distraction caused by uncertainty over his status. He expressed hope for clarity regarding the future, calling Trackhouse his “best home” but emphasizing that all options remained viable if negotiations faltered. Ultimately, it was announced that both parties agreed to part ways after the 2025 campaign—a move that, while amicable, surprised many supporters of the No. 99 team.
“Trackhouse and I have mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the 2025 season. I’ve had some of the best years of my Cup Series career at Trackhouse. We had great successes as a team and I gained some incredible friends,”
—Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Driver
Trackhouse’s Foundation and Suarez’s Lasting Impact
In just a handful of years, Suarez was instrumental in Trackhouse Racing’s ascent from new team to race-winning contender. Contributing two victories, 15 top-five results, and 39 top-ten finishes since 2021, he firmly helped establish Trackhouse as a legitimate competitor. Even during the challenging 2025 season, Suarez achieved one top-five and three top-ten finishes to add to his resume. His value did not go unnoticed by team owner Justin Marks, who reflected on Suarez’s role in building the brand and shaping its competitive culture.
“The role Daniel has played in the Trackhouse origin story and its first five years will remain a valued part of the company’s history forever. His commitment, work ethic and dedication to the effort is one of the most impressive things I personally have seen in my career,”
—Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing Owner
Marks underscored Suarez’s importance, describing him as both a friend and a foundational piece in Trackhouse’s rapid growth. However, as the roster became increasingly crowded—with Chastain, van Gisbergen, and the surging Zilisch vying for seats—difficult decisions became inevitable. The reshaping of the organization following Pitbull’s exit hints at a broader strategic evolution. Suarez, who entered the summer sitting 29th in the driver standings ahead of Chicago’s street circuit race, signaled his readiness to embrace new opportunities in his racing journey.
“Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change,”
—Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Driver
The 2025 season also saw Suarez celebrate victory in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports in Mexico City, a reminder of his competitiveness and wide appeal in both the U.S. and Latin American racing audiences. As he prepares to leave Trackhouse, Suarez does so with appreciation for his time spent at the organization and optimism for what lies ahead.
The Aftermath: New Opportunities for Suarez and Trackhouse Racing
The announcement of Daniel Suarez leaving Trackhouse Racing was not an easy conclusion for either side, as both benefited from several years of shared growth and achievement. The decision largely stemmed from a crowded Cup Series lineup. Between Chastain, van Gisbergen, Zilisch, and Suarez, only three seats were available, forcing team management to look hard at their long-term strategy.
Connor Zilisch’s meteoric progress in the Xfinity Series, including memorable wins at Circuit of the Americas and Pocono, made him an irresistible choice for a full-time position with the Cup team. His youthful energy and talent align with Trackhouse’s ambition to stay competitive for years to come, particularly after the high-profile departure of Pitbull signaled a new direction for the organization. Since launching in 2021, Trackhouse has shown a willingness to embrace innovation and risk, and installing Zilisch in a top car continues that trend.
For Daniel Suarez, this transition represents the end of a significant part of his career and the beginning of a new phase. His consistent presence in the playoffs, a recent win in Mexico City, and strong cross-border fan engagement make him an attractive target for several NASCAR teams, especially those eager to tap into new markets or draw from his experience. Although 2025 has not delivered the results Suarez might have hoped for, his record since joining Trackhouse ensures he will have no shortage of options moving forward.
Letting go of a veteran like Suarez is a calculated risk for Trackhouse, as the team seeks to further develop around Chastain, van Gisbergen, and their promising young driver. Fans and analysts alike will closely watch where Suarez lands and how Trackhouse’s new lineup performs as they strive to remain prominent contenders in the ultra-competitive NASCAR Cup Series landscape.
What This Means for the Cup Series and the Season Ahead
The departure of Daniel Suarez from Trackhouse Racing is certain to resonate far beyond the team garage. It leaves the door open for the arrival of fresh talent and potentially signals a broader generational shift within the organization. Trackhouse’s willingness to bet on younger drivers like Zilisch, while continuing to rely on proven names such as Chastain and van Gisbergen, suggests a bold vision for future seasons.
For Suarez, the coming months hold significant promise. As a free agent at a critical time in his career, he is poised to attract considerable interest from teams eager to boost performance and expand their reach. His reputation for resilience, popularity among fans—particularly in the growing Latin American segment—and recent successes make him one of the most intriguing drivers in this year’s NASCAR “silly season.”
Ultimately, with Daniel Suarez leaving Trackhouse Racing, both sides now pursue new directions: Suarez in his search for the next challenge, and Trackhouse as it doubles down on its emerging core and competitive aspirations. The impact on both parties, as well as the wider Cup Series, is likely to be felt through the remainder of 2025 and well into the next seasons, as NASCAR’s ongoing evolution continues.
