Daniel Suarez is preparing for his first NASCAR Cup Series season with Spire Motorsports in 2026, determined to turn the team into a race-winning contender. After joining the new ride in the No. 7 Chevrolet, Suarez has made clear that his main focus is on building the necessary systems and standards required to achieve strong results, emphasizing his Daniel Suarez Spire Motorsports expectations for the coming year.
Transition from Trackhouse Racing to Spire Motorsports
Suarez ended his five-year tenure with Trackhouse Racing following the 2025 season, where he played a central role in guiding the organization from its inception in 2021 to becoming a NASCAR Cup Series winner. The announcement from Spire Motorsports on October 22 confirmed that Suarez, 33, will fill the seat vacated by Justin Haley, who departed for Kaulig Racing after 2025. Suarez joins the team on a multi-year agreement, supported by primary sponsor Freeway Insurance, and plans to apply his experience to drive Spire’s competitive growth.
Vision for Success with Spire
Speaking in an Instagram rapid-fire Q&A, Daniel Suarez outlined his approach for the new chapter at Spire Motorsports, focusing on cultivating effective teamwork and developing robust work practices to boost on-track performance.
“The goal is to win, but how to build a plan to be able to get there? Well, what is going to be required from people, from individuals, teamwork, to be able to get there? And that’s my goal, how to build all these different processes and systems and work ethic to be able to get into the main goal, that is winning races,”
Daniel Suarez said. — Daniel Suarez, Driver
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign was one of the most challenging in Suarez’s career. He finished 29th in the standings, managing only two top-five and five top-ten finishes throughout the year, marking his lowest performance since he joined Trackhouse Racing. Despite these struggles, Suarez celebrated a special win in his home country earlier in the season, which provided a personal highlight amid professional adversity.
A Memorable Triumph in Mexico City
Competing in front of a passionate home crowd at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Daniel Suarez achieved his maiden NASCAR Xfinity Series victory. Starting from the back of the field in a backup No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet following a crash in qualifying, he surged forward, taking the lead on lap 47 and holding off Taylor Gray to claim the win. This victory held deep emotional significance for Suarez and his supporters in Mexico.
“This 2025 season definitely going to race in Mexico City in front of all the people that I love and all the people that have seen me since I was a kid and be able to win a race there. I think it was extremely special. Every win is different. Every win has a different meaning, but a different win in Mexico is up there,”
Daniel Suarez said. — Daniel Suarez, Driver
Suarez also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series race at the same venue but was bested by Trackhouse Racing teammate Shane van Gisbergen, a road course expert who claimed victory in the inaugural Cup points race at the circuit. Throughout his years with Trackhouse, Suarez notched two notable Cup wins—at Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta in 2024—before the team announced that Connor Zilisch would replace him in the No. 99 car for 2026.
Looking Ahead: Impact and Anticipated Results
Now embarking on his journey with Spire Motorsports, Daniel Suarez aims to apply lessons from both his setbacks and successes. His strategy centers around instilling a new work culture and systems to elevate Spire’s performance and meet the high Daniel Suarez Spire Motorsports expectations. As he brings his proven drive, along with his experiences from Trackhouse Racing and wins on diverse circuits, the coming season is poised to test Suarez’s leadership and competitive ambitions. The involvement of Connor Zilisch, Shane van Gisbergen, Justin Haley, and strong partnerships like Freeway Insurance hint at an evolving landscape for Spire Motorsports and the broader NASCAR Cup Series in 2026, keeping fans and teams focused on the impact Suarez can deliver in his new role.
