Mother Nature may have played spoilsport at Michigan International Speedway, but Trackhouse Racing crew members are keeping their spirits high with funny antics on the sidelines. The race started after a two-hour delay due to rain, and drivers were able to complete the first stage before the weather acted up again, forcing the race to be postponed until Monday, 11 a.m. ET. The gray clouds hanging over Michigan’s iconic 2-mile, D-shaped track didn’t stop NASCAR’s youngest team from having fun, even if it came at Daniel Suarez’s expense.

Suarez, who recently signed a contract extension with Trackhouse Racing, enjoyed the banter, comparing what could only be Ross Chastain’s crew with his own in an interview with NBC Sports.

Friendly pranks at Trackhouse Racing

Having started the race in 12th place, Daniel Suarez hoped that Michigan International Speedway would be the venue where he could double his win tally. The 32-year-old driver won at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this season, and with the pressure to qualify for the playoffs lifted from his shoulders, Suarez was in happy spirits despite the FireKeepers Casino 400 being delayed. The Mexican-American driver has been in decent form lately, having secured two top-ten results in the last two races at Indianapolis and Richmond.

In a video uploaded on NASCAR’s X profile, Daniel Suarez was seen interacting with NBC Sports and was asked about the Trackhouse Racing team’s staff joking around. In the background, two crew members were seen repeatedly opening and closing the doors, while making serious faces in front of the cameras. When asked if Suarez is also a victim of such pranks, the driver laughed and replied, “They do it all the time. Look at them! These guys, they have a good time. That’s something I actually love, just to see the personalities of all these guys.”

Comparing what appears to be Ross Chastain’s crew to his own, Suarez went on to say, “Because my team actually, they are joking all the time, playing around all the time, but this is a little different. These guys are just more funny. They are interesting guys! My group of guys, they have a great time as well, but I feel they are getting too into the mood right before the race. It’s killing time. These guys, it almost looks like they are always just messing around.”

Co-owned by Justin Marks, Pitbull, and Avenue Sports Fund, Trackhouse Racing is the youngest team on the block. It was founded in 2021, featuring just a single car with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel, who finished 25th in the first season. Ross Chastain joined a year later, and the team has also featured a third car occasionally, known as PROJECT 91. The car has featured drivers such as the legendary Formula 1 driver Kimi Räikkönen as well as Shane van Gisbergen.

With the business end of the season fast approaching, it’s refreshing to see NASCAR teams enjoy some lighthearted fun before the pressure ramps up. With three races to go before the regular season ends, Trackhouse Racing will hope that Ross Chastain can join Daniel Suarez in the playoffs.

Chastain started the race at Michigan International Speedway in 7th place but dropped down to 10th by the end of the first stage and will aim to climb the ladder when the race resumes on Monday. As for Suarez, with his future tied to Trackhouse Racing till 2025, he will hope to reward their faith in him with the elusive championship trophy.

Daniel Suarez on his contract extension with Trackhouse Racing

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After an eventful two-week Olympics break, during which time Daniel Suarez got married and competed in the NASCAR Brasil Series, the driver has made the news once again. The Monterrey-born racer is set to compete in his fifth consecutive season for Trackhouse Racing after signing a contract extension with his team until the end of the 2025 season. While the single-year deal may take some by surprise, the contract includes many performance-based incentives that could increase the length of the agreement if the goals are met.

Speaking about his contract extension, Daniel Suarez said, “Trackhouse is home to me and I have enjoyed every minute I have been here. We plan to keep working, growing, and winning more races. We can only do that with the support of my Amigos and Amigas at Freeway Insurance. They have backed me for the last several years and we have grown close with their customers and employees.”

Freeway Insurance has also extended its partnership with Suarez and Trackhouse Racing, with the firm’s branding being featured on the No. 99 car for one-third of the races during the 2025 season. While the team looks to expand by buying a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, Shane van Gisbergen is the most likely candidate who could take over that seat. As for Daniel Suarez, who has not just been the face of the team since its inception, but has also had the program built around him, he can rest easy knowing that his future at Trackhouse Racing is guaranteed.

What are your thoughts about Daniel Suarez’s contract extension? Let us know in the comments!