Daniel Suarez’s Atlanta Win Doesn’t Secure His Cup Future at Trackhouse Racing

Last night at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, fans witnessed one of the most insane finishes. In a sort of five-lap shootout, Daniel Suarez just barely beat Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch to win the race. This will undoubtedly be a massive confidence booster for the Mexican driver. The triumph came after he qualified in 23rd place and fought his way to the front. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to save his NASCAR Cup Series career. In a recent episode of his podcast, Denny Hamlin admitted that the driver may be under pressure at Trackhouse Racing.

With a star driver of Ross Chastain’s calibre, the ball was in Suarez’s court to keep up with him. 2022 was a breakout year, with a win at Sonoma and ultimately finishing 10th in the championship. However, he dropped the ball in 2023 and failed to reach the Playoffs.

What did Denny Hamlin say about Daniel Suarez?

He mentioned on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, “Sometimes in some instances, you do whatever makes financial sense to survive. The talent doesn’t mean as much, so we’ll see how it all plays out but it’s a really good thing for Trackhouse, certainly it is for Daniel. Hopefully this gets him some momentum. If Daniel’s got a fully funded car every single year, sponsors that love him, we’re not even talking about this. I don’t believe we’re having these conversations, but some of these teams are trying to grow, continue to move up, get better. Trackhouse is one of those for sure, they’re going to make good business sense and competition sense.”

However, Hamlin is worried that this situation may ‘muddy the waters’. In essence, Trackhouse Racing has a number of drivers waiting in the wings. Chief among them is Shane van Gisbergen, who was last year’s breakout star. While Suarez may have won and secured his Playoff berth, all it takes is one mistake to bring van Gisbergen closer.

Why did Daniel Suarez need this win?

In the off season, there were a number of talks about his #99 seat being under threat. It got stronger in 2023 when he went winless and finished outside the Playoffs. What twisted the knife even further, was the fact that his teammate Ross Chastain won a race and reached the Playoffs.

Aside from van Gisbergen, Zane Smith could also be a threat for him. That is in spite of the fact that he is practically on loan from Spire Motorsports.

READ MORE: 2024 Ambetter 400: Daniel Suarez Locks in Career Second Playoff Spot at Atlanta as Kyle Busch Goes Winless Again

In essence, there are three drivers who are vying for one coveted spot. The good news is that this win at Atlanta is a point in his favor, but he cannot afford to rest on his laurels. Getting a couple more wins and keeping Chastain on his toes will be the major priority for the Mexican driver.