Dale Earnhardt Jr. attributed part of the responsibility for the collision between Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on July 13 at Sonoma Raceway to Suarez’s actions. While Earnhardt admitted that Chastain made a critical error, he argued that Suarez’s blocking move was a decisive factor in the incident, highlighting the intense nature of the Ross Chastain Daniel Suarez clash.
The conflict unfolded on lap 45 as Suarez and Chastain approached turn 11 side by side. Suarez shifted to the left to defend his inside line, but Chastain misjudged his entry and spun out, causing significant disruption for both drivers. This incident left Chastain’s Trackhouse Racing teammate Suzuki in 29th place following the spin. Furious over the incident, Suarez used the team radio to make it clear that he expected repercussions from Chastain’s mistake.
Earnhardt Breaks Down the On-Track Incident
Analyzing the on-track clash on his podcast, Dale Jr. explained the dynamics that led to the collision. He described how Chastain was attempting to pass Suarez on the outside coming out of turn 10. Suarez, aware of the challenge, pulled in front to block the move, leading directly to the crash.
“Chastain’s got a run on Suarez out of 10. Suarez knows it. Chastain moves right to try to outbreak the 99. The 99 then pulls in front of him to block that move. You block, You pay. And while Chastain is the one who f**ked up here, he made a mistake…..but if the 99 doesn’t block, he doesn’t get run over,” he said. [41:58 onwards]
“More than likely, he can battle around the outside and maintain and hold the spot through the front straightaway….and Chastain doesn’t get by,” he added.
Earnhardt’s analysis stresses that Suarez’s blocking maneuver was a calculated response to Chastain’s aggressive pass attempt, and although Chastain erred, the block played a significant role in the accident.
Consequences for Suarez and Team Dynamics at Trackhouse Racing
The crash effectively destroyed Suarez’s chances of finishing in the top 10, as he ended the race 14th after the spin, while Chastain fell even further back to 24th place. Despite the team’s struggles with these setbacks, fellow Trackhouse Racing driver Shane Van Gisbergen secured his third victory of the season, highlighting the mixed fortunes within the team at Sonoma Raceway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also recalled his recent experience with Suarez, who drove the JR Motorsports #9 Chevrolet to victory at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez earlier this season in front of his home crowd. However, with Suarez’s upcoming exit from Trackhouse Racing, he faces uncertainty regarding his future rides in the Cup Series beyond 2025.
Evaluating Suarez’s Prospects in NASCAR’s Top Tier
Reflecting on Suarez’s career trajectory, Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed skepticism about viable opportunities for the Mexican driver to continue at the top level of NASCAR following his departure from Trackhouse Racing. Earnhardt questioned where Suarez might find a comparable or better ride in the Cup Series, noting the scarcity of openings that provide equal or improved prospects.
“I don’t know really like what opportunities he’s got in Cup, to stay in Cup. What openings are there? Where would he go that would be like a ‘hell yeah, this is just as good.’ A lateral move at least, right? There’s nowhere he’s gonna go….there’s nothing,” he said via aforementioned source. [44:12 onwards]
Amid these challenges, expectations are mounting that Connor Zilisch, a promising JR Motorsports rookie, will replace Suarez at Trackhouse Racing. Zilisch, recognized by Jimmie Johnson as a potential candidate for Legacy Motor Club’s third entry in 2026, recently delivered a standout performance by defeating Shane Van Gisbergen at Sonoma. This win marked his third of the season and vaulted him into fourth place in the driver standings, surpassing fellow young talent Jesse Love.
The evolving roster shifts underscore not only Suarez’s uncertain future but also the broader competitive landscape as fresh talent like Zilisch rise to prominence within NASCAR’s Cup Series.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Ross Chastain hit the wall?
A. Conflict with Denny Hamlin NASCAR stepped in and told Hamlin that he had clearly expressed his feelings. In the same race, Chastain collided with Chase Elliott, causing a spin. When the race restarted, Elliott nudged Chastain towards the wall, and Hamlin made a tight pass to show his displeasure again.
Q. What is the Ross Chastain rule?
A. On Tuesday, NASCAR shared several rule updates for the 2023 season. One important change is a new rule that bans the exciting wall-riding move that Ross Chastain used during last fall’s “Hail Melon” event at Martinsville.
Q. What did Ross Chastain do?
A. As they approached Turn 2, Chastain bumped into the back of Logano’s car, causing it to spin and involve other drivers. Afterward, Joey Logano stated, “He owned up to causing the crash.”
