Ross Chastain expressed admiration for Daniel Suarez after Suarez came close to clinching a playoff spot at Daytona International Speedway. Chastain, who drives for Trackhouse Racing alongside Suarez, acknowledged that he attempted to challenge Suarez during the race but was unable to pass him.
Suarez started the race outside the top 10 but had the best qualifying position among the Trackhouse drivers. Due to adverse weather conditions, qualifying order was based on performance metrics from the previous Richmond race, where Suarez finished seventh for the second consecutive time.
During the final laps, Suarez surged into contention as a third lane opened. He drafted behind Ryan Blaney and engaged in a four-wide battle in the last corner, with Blaney narrowly edging Suarez by 0.031 seconds for the victory.
Chastain, who finished 14th, praised Suarez’s effort after the event.
“I’m proud of the effort by Daniel (Suarez) and the No. 99 team. He kept his cool tonight. I tried to push him at times; it didn’t work out and he made it up there on his own there at the end and gave himself a shot. It would be better with three, but we’re definitely proud of the effort tonight,” he said via Speedway Digest.
Daniel Suarez Reflects on His Strong Showing and Future Prospects
Daniel Suarez is currently in the final stages of his Cup Series tenure, and earning a playoff spot at Daytona would have improved his prospects for securing a ride next season. Despite missing the playoffs, Suarez remained hopeful in the post-race interview about continuing to compete at a high level.
“I don’t know about the last few laps, but maybe 40 laps before the end, I felt like we we didn’t set up ourselves as good as we wanted to be, but that’s not a skill that was back there with us, and he was able to make it to the front. So probably the fastest superspeedway car we have had in a few years. Our playoff run ends here, but I’m very positive we’re gonna be there very soon,” he said.
On August 23, Connor Zilisch was announced as Suarez’s replacement for the Daytona event. This season may be Suarez’s last in the Cup Series unless he secures a ride in the Xfinity Series, where he could return as a free agent for 2027.
Earlier in the year, Suarez raced for JR Motorsports in Mexico City, where he captured a victory despite starting at the back due to a qualifying crash and switching to a backup car. He skillfully avoided a collision involving Zilisch and Ty Gibbs to take the win.
Implications for Suarez and Trackhouse Racing Moving Forward
Suarez has recently demonstrated improved form after a series of disappointing finishes, which could bode well for both his career and his Trackhouse teammates’ playoff ambitions. His near-miss at Daytona shows he remains competitive on superspeedways, an encouraging sign for the remainder of the season.
As Suarez continues to pursue opportunities, his performance at major events like Daytona may influence his chances of securing a seat in the Cup or Xfinity Series. Meanwhile, Trackhouse Racing benefits from having multiple drivers capable of strong finishes to support a playoff push.
