Daniel Suárez is on the move — again. The 33-year-old driver and Trackhouse Racing announced they’ll be parting ways at the end of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, bringing an end to a run that, frankly, has been the most stable chapter of Suárez’s often turbulent Cup career.
For Suárez, this isn’t exactly uncharted territory. The 2016 Xfinity Series champion burst onto the Cup scene with Joe Gibbs Racing — only to be unceremoniously shown the door not long after, as if he’d accidentally parked his Camry in Coach Gibbs’ reserved spot. Stints with Stewart-Haas Racing and Gaunt Brothers followed, but stability was about as elusive as a good tire strategy at Atlanta.
Then came Trackhouse. The upstart team, led by Justin Marks and bolstered by Pitbull’s global swagger, offered Suárez something rare in this sport: a proper home. And to his credit, Suárez delivered. In just a couple of years, he helped turn Trackhouse from a nobody operation into a race-winning, playoff-contending outfit. Along the way, he became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup race — a moment that didn’t just break barriers, it kicked them down with steel-toe boots.
Now, the two sides say it’s time for a new chapter. In a press release, Marks was full of praise for Suárez, saying his role in building Trackhouse will “forever be a valued part of the company’s history.”
“His commitment, work ethic and dedication to the effort is one of the most impressive things I’ve personally seen in my career,” Marks said. “We’re proud of his wins, his success, and his emergence as a valuable athlete in America’s greatest motorsport. But most of all, I’m proud of him as a friend.”
Suárez echoed the sentiment, calling his years at Trackhouse “some of the best of my Cup Series career.” But in classic Suárez fashion — always optimistic, always smiling, no matter how many curveballs the NASCAR garage throws his way — he made it clear this isn’t the end.
“Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change,” Suárez said. “We’ve mutually agreed to each go our own direction. The best is ahead.”
In the meantime, Suárez isn’t exactly coasting to the finish line. He’ll keep piloting the No. 99 Chevrolet for the rest of 2025, chasing wins, playoff spots, and perhaps reminding the garage that, despite the twists, turns, and occasional corporate ejector seat, Daniel Suárez still belongs.
And if history’s any guide, wherever he lands next — expect him to show up, smile wide, and prove it all over again.
Now, the attention naturally turns to who will replace him. Trackhouse isn’t exactly hurting for options — in fact, they’ve been quietly grooming one for this very moment. Eighteen-year-old Connor Zilisch, already under contract with Trackhouse’s development program, has been climbing the NASCAR ladder with the kind of poise that makes team owners drool and veteran drivers nervous. He’s young, fast, and already has a few Cup starts under his belt as part of Trackhouse’s Project 91 initiative.
Of course, NASCAR silly season being what it is, don’t expect team owner Justin Marks to tip his hand just yet. But with Zilisch waiting in the wings and Trackhouse determined to keep their momentum rolling, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist — or even a particularly sober race fan — to guess where this is headed.
Greg was a writer for DriveTribe supporting Amazon's The Grand Tour and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, and a Masters degree in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek and a regular contributor to Forbes.