Corey LaJoie shared a brief yet meaningful message of support for Daniel Suárez following the announcement that Suárez will leave Trackhouse Racing after the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This development marks the end of a five-year collaboration between the driver and the team, which began in 2021 when Suárez became Trackhouse Racing’s inaugural driver.
Suárez, 33, has competed full-time in the Cup Series for nine seasons. His tenure with Trackhouse Racing produced two victories: one at Sonoma in 2022 and another at Atlanta in 2024, which was part of NASCAR’s closest 1-2-3 finish in history. Despite these successes, both parties agreed to separate as the team begins a new chapter.
Daniel Suárez’s Career and Team Changes at Trackhouse Racing
Trackhouse Racing operates three full-time Cup cars but currently has four drivers on its roster, including 18-year-old Xfinity Series competitor Connor Zilisch, who is expected to take over the No. 99 car in 2026. Although the team has yet to officially announce Suárez’s replacement, Zilisch is widely considered his likely successor.
Before the official announcement, Suárez addressed the news on social media, describing it as a message “to my amigos.” In his reflection, he emphasized the importance of his time at Trackhouse Racing, highlighting the team’s rise from obscurity to race winners. He stated,
I’ve had some of the best years of my Cup Series career at Trackhouse. We had great successes as a team, and I gained some incredible friends. We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021, and in just a couple of years, we were winning races and running up front on a weekly basis. Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change, and we have mutually agreed to each go in our own direction,
highlighting the mutual nature of the split.
LaJoie’s Support and Suárez’s Next Steps in NASCAR
In response to Suárez’s message, Corey LaJoie offered a concise expression of encouragement, writing,
On to the next challenge, amigo,
affirming his support as Suárez faces this significant transition in his career.
Suárez’s NASCAR journey began after Carl Edwards unexpectedly retired in 2017. The Mexican-born driver has since made 305 Cup Series starts, racing for prominent teams such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Gaunt Brothers Racing, and Trackhouse Racing. He was also the 2016 Xfinity Series champion.
Currently ranked 29th in the standings ahead of the Chicago Street Race weekend, Suárez has reached the playoffs twice during his four seasons with Trackhouse. This season, however, he has struggled relative to teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, both of whom have secured race wins and playoff spots.
Challenges Ahead for Suárez in Securing His Future Ride
With only eight races left in the regular season, Suárez faces pressure to improve his performance to enhance his chances of landing a new Cup Series ride. How he manages this challenge will be crucial for his NASCAR future as he attempts to build on his past achievements despite the shifting dynamics at Trackhouse Racing.
