Daniel Suárez and Trackhouse Racing: A Mutual Separation at the End of 2025
Mexican driver Daniel Suárez, known for being the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, will leave Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season. Both Trackhouse and Suárez have described the separation as a “mutual decision”, allowing the driver to seek new opportunities for next season.Although Trackhouse hasn’t announced Suárez’s replacement in the Chevrolet No. 99, his 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 participated in three Cup races for Trackhouse this season, including Saturday night’s race in Atlanta.
Suárez, with two wins in 305 Cup races, is in 29th position in the points standings this season. The 33-year-old driver is in his fifth season with Trackhouse Racing, being the team’s first driver in 2021 and managing to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs twice.Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks expressed his gratitude to Suárez for his contributions.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, 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 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. Last month, Suárez had a triumphant return to his home country by winning the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City, competing for JR Motorsports at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The situation of celebrating a homecoming with ongoing contractual 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 compete in 2026 with a new team. Suárez began his career in the Cup with Joe Gibbs Racing and competed for Stewart-Haas Racing and Gaunt Brothers Racing. He has Cup victories in 2022 at Sonoma and last year at Atlanta.This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation. It’s definitely the first time with the race in Mexico, but it’s not the first time I’ve been in the position of having to win or in which I have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season. It’s definitely a distraction. I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and put all this aside and do my thing on the track.
Daniel Suárez
