Daniel Suarez optimistic, “not sad” about Trackhouse split

On Tuesday, Trackhouse Racing announced that the team’s original driver — Daniel Suarez — will not return in 2026 as the driver of the No. 99 Chevrolet.

Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Suarez said of the news: “I want to make sure that you guys and the people listening know that I’m not sad. This is not sad. This is just a new chapter. That’s all it is … This is not a sad moment. It’s just a change and it happens.”

Suarez also revealed that this decision did not happen suddenly, adding: “This is not something new for me. I have known about this for a while and it just happens to be official today (Tuesday). I’m actually a little bit relieved that this is out and people know about it and we can talk about it and we can move forward with future plans and continue to work. I’m excited for whatever comes next.”

Suarez went on to talk about how thankful he is for his time with the organization, making it clear that there is no ill will between the two parties. “It’s just a change. I love Trackhouse. I love everyone there. There’s a lot of great people there, a lot of people I consider my family.”

When Trackhouse originally formed as a single-car team in 2021, they signed Suarez, who had previously raced for large organizations such as Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing. In both situations, he was let go to make room for another driver.

At Trackhouse, Suarez became a winner in the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time, but the past five years have not been without their struggles. Trackhouse also has a rising star in Connor Zilisch waiting in the wings, and he’s a driver many rival teams would be happy to snatch up. While no announcement has been made, it’s expected that Zilisch will be called upon to replace Suarez at Trackhouse.