How can a driver’s race fall apart before they have a chance to compete? At Phoenix Raceway, it occurred in a flash for Daniel Suarez. He was on track for a strong finish in his No. 99 Chevrolet—until mayhem broke out. His race was gone before he could react after a car in front of him lost control. Frustrated, he erupted over the radio: “F—— lappers, man. Unbelievable.” However, this was about a deeper irritation that was seething beneath the surface, not just a crash.

It was supposed to be a memorable Cup Series debut for Katherine Legge. The first female to race in the premier series since Danica Patrick in 2018. At 44 years old, Legge was a seasoned race car driver, but just not cut out for the Cup Series, this was evident right from the get-go. She spun her race car on Lap 4, but the incident on Lap 215 resulted in one of the biggest talking points in the Cup Series garage.

While the crash saw both Suarez and Legge headed to the garage in Phoenix, the Trackhouse Racing driver was livid with NASCAR and their process that allows other racers to compete in the Cup Series. Although the two drivers have made amends by connecting on a phone call, Suarez’s view on driver participation in the premier series hasn’t changed.

Daniel Suarez calls out NASCAR’s approval process 

Few anticipated that Katherine Legge would be at the center of controversy when she made her NASCAR Cup Series comeback in Phoenix. However, controversy about NASCAR’s driver approval procedure erupted following a collision that ended Daniel Suarez’s race. One of the best Latino drivers in the sport, Suarez, pointed the finger at NASCAR as well as Legge. “It was good, it was good. I give her a lot of credit for reaching out a couple of times. My position didn’t change. I was mad about the situation, and I believe that she got set for failure,” Suarez said about Legge’s post-race apology.  

The collision raised questions about whether NASCAR’s open-door policy for outside drivers hurts competition, making it more than just a racing mishap. Legge, a former Formula E, IMSA, and IndyCar driver, had a rough outing in Phoenix. Suárez was upset, but his annoyance was more profound than the wreck; it stemmed from what he perceived to be an unjust system. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a great driver or a bad driver. Regardless of that, if you’re thrown into one of the most difficult series in the world to be competitive, it’s not fair. That’s the way I saw it. That’s why I was more disappointed in NASCAR than her,” the driver said. 

There’s no strict process or procedure for a driver to enter Cup racing. In fact we saw NASCAR further blur this line with the Open Exemption Provisional, which guarantees star drivers from other racing series to compete at the Cup level. Well, OEP comes into play when the field is stretched beyond 40 cars which wasn’t the case last weekend. This is why Livefast Motorsports were able to field a car for Legge. However, a female driver entering Cup racing isn’t an issue for Suarez but rather the sketchy approval system that leads to incidents on the racetracks. He even stated an example of F1 racing while venting out his frustration.

“I believe I’m one of the best racing drivers for stock cars in the world. But if I wanted to race in Formula 1 or Formula 2, I wouldn’t be allowed to. I’m not qualified. I don’t know the car, I don’t know the tracks. I’d have to go through the process,” Suarez Emphasized. Drivers must earn their place in the Cup Series, the highest level of stock car racing, over several years. The Mexican driver feels it is disrespectful to full-time competitors to permit entries without that climb. “The process to allow somebody into the Cup Series should be a little harder. For respect to the driver that is trying, respect to the fans, and the teams that are running full time, because we work very hard,” he added.

Calls for NASCAR to review its approval procedure were rekindled by Legge’s difficulties. Is prior Truck Series or Xfinity experience necessary? Should a closer examination of driver preparedness be conducted? Although NASCAR has not made any announcements, the discussion is still going on since more crossover drivers are joining the Cup Series. Suarez is adamant that NASCAR make sure rookie drivers are prepared for success rather than failure.

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Is NASCAR’s Approval Process Broken? A System Under Fire

The inconsistent nature of NASCAR’s driver approval procedure—which lets some drivers in while denying others with better credentials—is being questioned. Calls for reform are being fueled by the growing frustration of drivers, teams, and fans. Despite spending years in NASCAR’s lower series, drivers like Tommy Joe Martins have had difficulty getting approval for the Cup Series. Conor Daly and Helio Castroneves, who have little expertise with stock cars, have been allowed to compete even though they are having difficulty keeping up.

“It’s frustrating. You watch guys get rides because of money or connections, and you know you could do better with the same opportunity,” Martins admitted. Drivers become irritated and safety concerns are raised by this inconsistency. Cup Series racing requires expertise and accuracy, yet approvals can appear erratic, leading many to doubt NASCAR’s selection process.

Particularly in the ARCA Menards Series, which is renowned for its lax entry requirements and crash-filled races, NASCAR’s approval procedure has come under fire. Veteran drivers have called out for strict regulations and standards. “It’s a joke. Some of these guys shouldn’t be out there. It’s dangerous for everyone,” Denny Hamlin said after a particularly chaotic ARCA race.

Additionally, NASCAR’s clearance criteria have been erratic. Due to his lack of recent experience, Mike Wallace, a veteran with more than 800 NASCAR appearances, was not allowed to return to the superspeedway in 2020. James Davison, who had little experience with stock cars but had open-wheel experience, was approved right away. “It doesn’t make sense. I’ve raced here my whole life, but suddenly I’m not qualified?” Wallace said.

Then there is the element of sponsors and financial backing that often seems to make or break driver’s chances to compete in the Cup Series. Although safety should come first, the system frequently seems to value relationships and money more than credentials. Formula 1’s Super License system, on the other hand, makes sure that only the best racers advance by requiring drivers to accrue points through junior series success. There is only a defined, performance-based path; there are no shortcuts.

Unprepared drivers have entered the Cup Series with little monitoring because of NASCAR’s lax approval process. Because of this, novice drivers have interfered with races by causing hazardous collisions or becoming rolling hazards. “We work too hard for this. You can’t just put anyone in these cars and expect it to work out.” Kyle Busch said. With safety, fairness, and competition integrity at stake, NASCAR must rethink its driver approval system. A structured licensing process, like F1’s Super License, could ensure only qualified drivers reach the Cup Series. At the very least, transparency is needed. Drivers and teams should know the approval criteria, and fans should trust that talent—not politics—earns a spot on the grid.

Until then, the question remains: How many more questionable approvals will it take for NASCAR to act?