The brutal nature of NASCAR’s performance-based industry was exemplified when Corey LaJoie was let go by Spire Motorsports. Despite being a part of Spire Motorsports for almost 4 years now, the 32-year-old is now forced to find a seat in the Cup Series for 2025. While Daniel Suarez isn’t exactly in the same boat, having won a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and secured a playoff spot, a delay in contract extension is somewhat making his future appear more uncertain with every passing week.

Like Corey LaJoie, Daniel Suarez, too, found his way to a contract extension in 2023. However, with no stage wins this season so far, 17th place in the driver standings, and four top-10s, have results been good enough for Trackhouse Racing to offer him a contract extension for 2025 and beyond?

Trackhouse Racing delaying Suarez’s contract extension

Daniel Suarez has been with Trackhouse Racing since the very beginning, having witnessed the team’s meteoric rise ever since they formed in 2021 firsthand. Over the years, the team has been on a consistent upward trajectory, getting new sponsors on board, superstar artist Pitbull as co-owner, and Ross Chastain, who reached Championship 4 in 2022.

However, throughout this period, Daniel Suarez has only secured two wins for the team in the last four years. His first win was at Sonoma Raceway in 2022, and the second was at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this year. Add to this his 19 top-10s and 10 top-5s finishes since 2021 and his performance starts looking far from ideal. And for a team looking to become regular playoff contenders, is Daniel Suarez matching up to their expectations?

Earlier this year, Daniel Suarez expressed his desire to remain at Trackhouse Racing for the foreseeable future. In a quote that was featured on Eric Estepp’s YouTube channel, Suarez said, “I definitely think Trackhouse is the place to be. Honestly today I wouldn’t trade Trackhouse for any other team. It doesn’t matter if it’s Gibbs, Hendrik, whatever. I wouldn’t trade it and the reason for that is how the entire organization believes in each other and how they’ve given me the opportunity to grow the 99 team. Those are things I didn’t have in the past, that to me can be the difference between being a good team and a great team. I’m not saying that we’re a great team just yet, but we have the potential to do it.”

It is well known that Trackhouse Racing is a team in transition. Recently, Avenue Sports Fund acquired a minority stake in the team, while rumors about Pitbull’s departure have been denied by owner Justin Marks. As things stand, the team has two Cup Series seats, with up to four drivers in contention.

Zane Smith is expected to return to Trackhouse Racing by the end of the 2024 season, while Shane van Gisbergen has been linked to a Cup Series seat with the team as well. Reports have indicated that the team is interested in buying a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, but there has been no confirmation on that front.

Taking all these factors into consideration, the team being in transition could indicate why Trackhouse Racing has delayed Daniel Suarez’s contract extension. The 32-year-old has outperformed teammate Ross Chastain, who has had no wins all season and is 16th in the playoff grid. As things stand, there are no viable candidates for Trackhouse Racing to replace Daniel Suarez, and a Corey LaJoie outcome could come to hurt the team more than it will affect Suarez.

With NASCAR currently in the middle of an Olympic break, one would think newlywed Daniel Suarez would spend this time enjoying his honeymoon. Instead, the 32-year-old will be behind the wheel, racing in Brazil before the Cup Series resumes at Richmond Raceway.

Daniel Suarez to compete in NASCAR Brasil Series

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Daniel Suarez loves racing, doesn’t he? The 32-year-old recently got married to Julia Piquet. He is spending the Paris Olympics break in his wife’s home country, racing in the NASCAR Brasil Series on Aug. 3-4. Suarez will be competing at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, also known as Interlagos, in São Paulo, Brazil. The event is Stage 5 in the NASCAR Brasil Series calendar, with the season finale taking place in November 2024.

Speaking to the media before his marriage to Julia Piquet, Daniel Suarez said, “We’re gonna be getting married in Brazil in a couple weeks, and when I found out that they were gonna be having a NASCAR Brasil race in Interlagos on a race track that is so historic … it was a no-brainer for me. I started having some conversations with NASCAR and NASCAR Brasil, and I got the opportunity, so super excited. Very fortunate to have this opportunity.”

After his exciting adventure in Brazil, Daniel Suarez will shift his attention back to the NASCAR Cup Series, with the next race taking place at Richmond Raceway. With only four races remaining in the regular season, the 32-year-old will look to finish the season strongly, to gain maximum playoff points to stand a good chance of competing in the postseason. He may not have a contract extension yet, but Suarez will be optimistic about being retained by Trackhouse Racing, where he hopes to spend the coming years in what is an exciting chapter for the team.

Do you think Trackhouse Racing will offer Daniel Suarez a contract extension? Let us know in the comments!