Daniel Suarez to Depart Trackhouse Racing in 2026
In a significant shift in the NASCAR landscape, reigning Cup Series talent Daniel Suarez has confirmed he will not return to Trackhouse Racing for the 2026 season. The 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion declared that he will part ways with the underdog team after the 2025 season concludes.
“I’ve had some of the best years of my Cup Series career at Trackhouse,” Suarez stated. “We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021, and in just a couple of years, we were winning races and running upfront. Sometimes things change, and we have agreed to each go in our own direction.”
Suarez’s tenure with Trackhouse, where he became the first driver in the team’s history, included notable victories at Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta in 2023. Despite these successes, he has struggled to keep pace with teammate Ross Chastain, who boasts six wins and a second-place finish in the 2022 championship.
Current Standings
As the 2025 NASCAR season progresses, Suarez currently ranks 29th in the standings, only 31 points above his rookie teammate Shane van Gisbergen. In contrast, Chastain sits eighth and has secured his playoff spot with a recent victory in the Coca-Cola 600.
Team Response and Future Prospects
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks expressed gratitude for Suarez’s contributions, remarking, “His commitment and work ethic are among the most impressive I’ve witnessed in my career. We are proud of his wins and the growth of his brand.” Marks also hinted at the possibility of 18-year-old Connor Zilisch, currently under contract with Trackhouse, stepping into the No. 99 seat next season.
With this announcement, the motorsports community now anticipates Suarez’s next move in an evolving career landscape, underscoring the dynamic nature of NASCAR team alignments and driver strategies.
