“We Know the Bigger Picture” – Ross Chastain Let’s Slip Plans for Daniel Suarez Amid Playoff Struggles

Going into the last regular season race of 2023 at Daytona, Trackhouse Racing has one of its two drivers in the playoff spots, Ross Chastain. His teammate Daniel Suarez came mighty close to qualifying at Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago. However, a pit stop blunder cost him the race win and his chance to clinch a place in the top 16.

Coming into Daytona, Suarez is one of the few who still has a chance of making it through to the playoffs on points. It won’t be an easy task for the 31-year-old, but his teammate Ross Chastain is more than willing to help out his “amigo. A massive reason why Suarez is not in the playoffs already is his team, Trackhouse Racing. Think about Indianapolis. He was on course for a comfortable race win, but a massive pitstop blunder ruined his chances.

During the last pit stop at Indianapolis, the tire-gun hose was stuck under his left-front tire, costing him time and track position. With just one race, Suarez will have to hope for three things. First, a new driver doesn’t win at Daytona (unless it’s him); second, Bubba Wallace has a stinker of a race; and third, Ross Chastain helps him finish as high up the pack as possible.

Ross Chastain is ready to help out his “Amigo”

Speaking at the pre-race press conference at Daytona, Ross Chastain was asked if there had been any conversation at the Trackhouse about helping Daniel Suarez. The #1 driver said that he was always going to be there for his friend and that they had actually had conversations about assisting Suarez to get into the playoffs.

“I am there for my amigo all the time man.  We have already had those conversations and have had them with GM and Chevrolet, and we know the bigger picture of the bowtie and what is important.”

Chastain added that he and his crew can do a lot of good for the #1 car and that the race at Daytona will be a crucial moment to do that.

“We can do a lot of good for the 1 car and help people where we can. Tomorrow night will be a key moment to do that,” the #1 driver added

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Chastain clinched his place in the playoffs when he started from pole and won the race at Nashville earlier in the season. While the 30-year-old would have liked to win some more races, he has only one goal going into Daytona, helping Daniel Suarez into the playoffs.

All hands on deck for Daniel Suarez

After the race concluded at Watkins Glen, Chastain posted on X, stating that the Trackhouse Racing team only had one goal going into Daytona in the final race of the regular season.

“I know you probably don’t believe me BUT… we’re headed in the right direction! If that last caution falls a little differently we could’ve ran inside the top-10. I feel pretty darn good about the next 11 weeks. Next week we have 1 goal, push @Daniel_SuarezG into the playoffs!”

The race at the Glen last weekend was not an exceptionally memorable one for Daniel Suarez or Ross Chastain. The #1 driver finished the race in 18th, while the #99 man could only go as high as 22nd.

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Things will definitely need to be a lot better at Daytona if the Trackhouse team wants Suarez to be in the playoffs. Suarez and Chastain will be starting 22nd and 25th, respectively, on race day, and it does seem unlikely that the 31-year-old will make it through. Unless we have yet another miracle on our hands at Daytona.