Daniel Suarez has been busy in Mexico selling NASCAR’s first-ever Cup race within the nation, whereas additionally unveiling his personal paint scheme for the race, that includes sponsorship from Telcel-Infinitum. The Trackhouse Racing Crew driver is the one Mexican to win on the Cup Sequence stage, and the one foreign-born driver to ever win a national-level title when he claimed the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence title in 2016.
Motorsport.com was in a position to take a little bit of Suarez’s time in Mexico to speak concerning the upcoming worldwide race, and his future within the sequence.
“Clearly, the power is progressively increase, individuals are excited, the media is worked up,” stated Suarez of NASCAR’s June fifteenth race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. “We simply confirmed the ornament on the automobile with which we’re going to race, and I hope you appreciated it lots. There are nonetheless many races that I’ve to concentrate on earlier than Mexico Metropolis, however as you already know, Mexico Metropolis goes to be a particular race for me. I am making an attempt to reside each second as a result of time passes in a short time and within the blink of an eye fixed, the occasion is already over. So I need to make sure that I reside within the second, get pleasure from it, and hopefully we will execute a superb weekend to combat for the victory.”
Daniel Suarez, NASCAR announcement Mexico Metropolis
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
Coming dwelling
Suarez earned his first Cup victory at Sonoma Raceway in 2022 and his second at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2024. At a number of tracks, you may see ‘Daniel’s Amigos’ — a tight-knit group of Suarez followers who get collectively to cheer on NASCAR’s high Latin American expertise. Whereas there are some races the place he feels extra native help than others, none of them examine to what he expects to expertise in Mexico.
“Truthfully, I really feel like I am in a really privileged place,” stated Suarez. “It hasn’t been straightforward in any respect … In the US, there are numerous locations like California, Phoenix, Miami, Texas, that make me really feel at dwelling. I see Mexican flags in all places. Nevertheless, it isn’t my dwelling. My house is right here (in Mexico), and for the primary time in (fashionable) NASCAR historical past, we’re going to have a factors race exterior of the US, and it will be in my dwelling. So it may be very, very particular. I’m very glad and excited. And it will be a weekend that I’ll bear in mind for the remainder of my life.”
Daniel Suarez, NASCAR announcement Mexico Metropolis
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
Maintaining with the large groups
Whereas Mexico is definitely circled on his calendar, there are nonetheless 35 different races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup schedule. 1 / 4 of the way in which by the season, no Trackhouse driver has visited Victory Lane, though Suarez got here only one place wanting the win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It stands because the group’s finest results of the 2025 season, so far.
Talking on the place the group is at proper now, Suarez admitted that “we nonetheless have some approach to go.” Trackhouse put each automobiles within the playoffs in 2022 and ended the 12 months because the championship runner-up with Ross Chastain, however since then, their presence on the entrance has slowly grow to be rarer and rarer.
“We modified many issues within the group’s construction,” continued Suarez. “Nevertheless, that work remains to be not mirrored on the monitor. We’ve got work to do. Groups like Hendrick, Penske, Joe Gibbs — the large, robust groups are getting somewhat additional away from us every time. And that is the work we’ve got to do. What do we’ve got to do to have the ability to compete with the large groups? What are we lacking? In 2022, the primary 12 months of the Subsequent Gen, we have been very robust. I feel Trackhouse was, if not, the strongest group. One of many strongest groups that began. Nevertheless, the large groups had a bit extra of a bonus each three or 4 months. All of the races this 12 months have been gained by three groups.That is what I simply talked about to you. We’ve got work to do to meet up with them.”
Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford; Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
As for his finest shot at reaching Victory Lane, Suarez believes “it will possibly occur anyplace,” however spoke of a need to simply see extra consistency out of the race group. Some weeks they’ve profitable pace whereas different weeks, they appear to be buried deep within the pack.
“So it’s worthwhile to have extra alternatives. But when I’ve one or two automobiles a 12 months that I can win races with, I will be fortunate if I win a race. So we have to have extra alternatives to have the ability to win extra races.”
“I’m proud of Trackhouse”
There’s additionally the query round Suarez’s place at Trackhouse, particularly with rising star Connor Zilisch, who’s below contract with Trackhouse and already a confirmed winner within the Xfinity Sequence. Suarez appears extra centered on the efficiency of the group than his rapid future, however he did provide some perception into his mindset surrounding it.
“There are nonetheless many issues up within the air, it is nonetheless very early and we’ve got been making progress, nonetheless, recently, there are a number of plans to maintain shifting ahead,” stated Suarez. “Nevertheless, we have to be sure that work is mirrored on the monitor. Truthfully, the state of the championship does not fear me a lot. I do know that to make it to the playoffs, it’s important to win. The difficulty of getting into by factors may be very, very dangerous. Usually one driver, perhaps two, go by on factors, however you actually must win. In case you win, you are in. So, the difficulty of factors does not fear me. I’m extra centered on the difficulty of competitors in how we’re executing the races. What are we doing as a group to enhance? What are we doing in 2025 that’s higher than 2024 to maintain bettering? And the place are we going as nicely? What is going on to occur?
“I do know that the subsequent 10 years of my profession are going to be a very powerful years. And if I need to win a championship, I’ve to be centered on how I will do it. So, I imagine Trackhouse can provide me these instruments. Nevertheless, that must be mirrored. Let’s examine what occurs. It is also very early to speak to different groups. However I’m proud of Trackhouse. Nevertheless, I’m not glad. I need to be extra aggressive. I need extra. And hopefully, we will obtain it collectively.”
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Luis Ramírez
NASCAR Cup
Daniel Suarez
Trackhouse Racing Crew
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