Daniel Suarez saw his Sonoma playoff hopes threatened after a dramatic on-track incident with teammate Ross Chastain, whose mistake during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race led to costly consequences for both drivers and their Trackhouse Racing team. As tension mounted at Sonoma Raceway, Suarez’s quest to keep his championship bid alive was put in further doubt when he responded to Chastain’s apology with complete silence.
Race Day Confrontation at Sonoma Raceway
Shane van Gisbergen marked his third win of the season at the California circuit, yet off-track drama between Trackhouse Racing teammates overshadowed the celebration. Sonoma’s 1.99-mile course has historically been favorable for Daniel Suarez, who clinched his first Cup victory there in 2022, but this year, stakes were much higher as he entered the weekend ranked 29th in the playoff standings and in urgent need of an outstanding result.
Although the No. 99 team arrived in California eager for a turnaround, a 14th-place finish did little to improve their playoff position. Suarez’s campaign absorbed a damaging setback partway through the 110-lap feature when he was running securely in 14th place. Ross Chastain, Suarez’s Trackhouse teammate, locked up under braking in Turn 11 and wound up bumping Suarez from behind, resulting in the No. 99 Chevy dropping back to 29th. This contact cost Suarez precious momentum on a day when every position mattered.
Suarez Responds With Cold Silence
Following the incident, tension was high on the team radio. Frustrated, Suarez urgently relayed a warning to his crew:
“You better hope I don’t get to him today,” — Daniel Suarez, Driver
As the race reached its Stage 2 break, Chastain attempted to extend an apology through his spotter, explaining that he never meant to drive that aggressively into Turn 11 and simply miscalculated his braking. The No. 99 team passed along the apology:
“99 team: (Chastain spotter) came down here and said he apologized. Had no intention to get in there that deep, but couldn’t get it stopped.” — Jordan Bianchi, Racing Journalist
Despite these efforts, Suarez offered no response, maintaining a cold silence both on the radio and in the garage afterward. Racing reporter Jordan Bianchi noted this in a social media update:
“99 team: ‘(Chastain spotter) came down here and said he apologized. Had no intention to get in there that deep, but couldn’t get it stopped.’ Daniel Suarez: (Silence)” — Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) July 13, 2025
Chastain, for his part, avoided public comment after leaving the track. Suarez, still upset, insisted a discussion between the two is necessary and hinted at possible retaliation if issues remain unresolved:
“I hope so. And if it doesn’t happen, he’s gonna get it back.” — Daniel Suarez, Driver
Playoff Chances Grow Slim as Season Winds Down
With just six races remaining before the NASCAR playoffs, Daniel Suarez now faces a near-impossible path to qualify, especially with the drama and points loss from Sonoma fresh in mind. His time with Trackhouse Racing may be coming to an end after this season, further raising the stakes. Each race is now crucial, leaving Suarez under immense pressure to avoid any further errors if he wishes to remain in championship contention.
The impact of this incident at Sonoma extends beyond a single race, putting Trackhouse Racing’s team dynamics under strain and leaving Daniel Suarez’s playoff ambitions on the brink as the 2025 Cup Series intensifies.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Daniel Suarez pass the citizenship test?
A. On April 29, Suarez shared in an Instagram video that he had successfully completed the citizenship test and was excited about becoming a dual citizen. Prior to achieving his goal of joining the Cup Series, the driver of the No.
Q. Did Daniel Suarez pass his citizenship test?
A. In a video shared on Instagram on April 29, Suarez announced he successfully completed the citizenship test and anticipated gaining dual citizenship.
