Daniel Suárez and Trackhouse Racing: A Farewell at the End of the 2025 Season
Mexican driver Daniel Suárez, recognized for being the only person born in Mexico to win a NASCAR national series race, will leave Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season. Both Trackhouse and Suárez have described this separation as a “mutual decision”, allowing the driver to seek new opportunities for next season.Although Trackhouse hasn’t announced a replacement for the No. 99 Chevrolet, Suárez’s departure opens the door to the possible promotion of Connor Zilisch, a young talent currently competing in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. Zilisch has already participated in three Cup races for Trackhouse this season, including Saturday night’s race in Atlanta.
Suárez has two wins in 305 Cup races and currently holds the 29th position in this season’s points standings. The 33-year-old driver has been in his fifth season with Trackhouse Racing, being the team’s first driver in 2021. With Trackhouse, Suárez managed to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs twice.Justin Marks, founder and owner of Trackhouse, thanked Suarez for his contribution to the team.We have built a team that nobody knew in 2021 and in a few years we have won races and competed at the front weekly. Like the seasons of the year, sometimes things change and we have agreed to go our separate ways.
Daniel Suárez
Trackhouse Racing also has Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen under contract, in addition to Zilisch as a development driver. Chastain has six career wins and was the Cup Series runner-up in 2022, while van Gisbergen has one win this year and is in the playoffs. Suárez, who became a U.S. citizen last year, also has three wins in the Xfinity Series and one in the Truck Series. His 2016 championship in the Xfinity Series made him the only foreign-born driver to win a national series title. Recently, Suárez had a triumphant return to his native country by winning the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City, competing for JR Motorsports at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. However, the combination of celebrating a homecoming and ongoing contract negotiations weighed on Suárez.The role Daniel has played in the history of Trackhouse and in its first five years will always be a valuable part of the company’s history. His commitment, work ethic, and dedication are some of the most impressive things I have seen in my career.
Justin Marks
Suárez will continue competing on the track in 2026 with a new team. Suárez began his Cup career with Joe Gibbs Racing and has also competed for Stewart-Haas Racing and Gaunt Brothers Racing. His Cup wins include Sonoma in 2022 and Atlanta last year.It’s not the first time I’ve been in this position. It’s definitely the first time with the race in Mexico, but it’s not the first time I’ve had to win or have a contract negotiation mid-season. It’s definitely a distraction. I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t really matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and put all this aside and do my thing on the track.
Daniel Suárez
