Dale Earnhardt Jr criticizes Daniel Suarez for his role in a high-stakes incident at Sonoma Raceway that resulted in a damaging spin and hurt Suarez’s race prospects. The analysis from the former NASCAR champion comes after Daniel Suarez’s clash with Ross Chastain, bringing a new layer to the controversy.
Earnhardt Jr Offers Detailed Breakdown of the Sonoma Incident
Daniel Suarez is facing mounting pressure, not only from recent results but also after his confirmed departure from Trackhouse Racing. As his teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen have already secured playoff opportunities, Suarez is under stress to clinch a win and stay in postseason contention. Sonoma Raceway was the location of his maiden Cup victory, yet the latest event turned out to be challenging, especially following the Lap 45 altercation.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., reflecting on the moment in his Dale Jr. Download podcast, described the decisions that led to Suarez’s spin. He explained how Suarez made a crucial move that altered the race’s direction for him and his competitors. According to Earnhardt Jr., Suarez positioned himself poorly when trying to defend against Chastain, who was making a run out of Turn 10.
“I’m watching this play out. (Ross) Chastain and (Daniel) Suarez are battling in the braking zone. There was a car in front of them — No. 22 (Joey) Logano — neither one of them are in a position to try to outbrake Logano into the corner.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Legend
Earnhardt Jr. continued with his assessment of both the path Chastain took and Suarez’s response to it. He made it clear that although both drivers were under pressure in the high-speed moment, the mistake from the No. 99 car came when he went for a block rather than carefully evaluating the move by his competitor.
“Chastain’s got a run on Suarez out of Turn 10, Suarez knows it, Chastain moves right to try to outbrake the No. 99, the No. 99 then pulls in front of him to block that move,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Legend
Dale Earnhardt Jr. concluded emphatically about the resulting contact, arguing Suarez’s defensive approach contributed to his misfortune, especially given Chastain’s own difficulties in the corner.
“While Chastain’s the one to f**k up here, he made a mistake here. But if the No. 99 didn’t block, he wouldn’t get run over. More than likely, he can battle on the outside and beat and maintain and hold the spot through the front straightaway, the bend to the left through the front straightaway, and Chastain doesn’t get by.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Legend
The Emotional Toll of Uncertain Futures in NASCAR
During his podcast, Earnhardt Jr. went beyond the technical analysis, pointing to deeper pressures that might be influencing Suarez’s decision-making on the racetrack. The recent announcement that Daniel Suarez is set to leave Trackhouse Racing has apparently weighed on his state of mind, possibly leading to more aggressive or defensive moves than normal. With his future up in the air and no victories yet in the season, the Monterrey-born driver is clearly in a challenging spot.
The Sonoma incident underlined just how quickly fortunes can turn in NASCAR, especially for drivers trying to secure playoff spots. The tense incident involving Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Daniel Suarez underscored the heightened stakes at this stage of the year, with each maneuver carrying the weight of not just the current race, but potentially entire careers.
Looking Ahead for Suarez, Chastain, and Trackhouse Racing
The aftermath of the Sonoma tangle places extra scrutiny on Daniel Suarez as he strives to achieve a crucial win in the remaining races, likely deciding his playoff fate. With key rivals like Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen advancing, the competitive pressure within Trackhouse Racing intensifies. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s comments have sparked new debate over how drivers handle stress and critical moments, especially when faced with personal and professional uncertainty. The next events on the NASCAR calendar will reveal whether Suarez can recover, adjust his race craft, and keep his championship hopes alive, or if the weight of these challenges proves too much to overcome.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. a billionaire?
A. In 2025, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s net worth is about $300 million. This wealth comes from his career as a leading NASCAR driver and his current role as a broadcaster. He continues to grow his influence through endorsements, owning a racing team, and various partnerships.
Q. Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. retiring?
A. Dale Earnhardt Jr. decided to retire from full-time racing in 2017 after being a NASCAR Cup Series driver for 17 years. By that point, he was 42 years old and had experienced several concussions during his racing career.
