Suárez Calls Contract Talks a Distraction Ahead of Mexico City Race

Daniel Suárez is set for a big moment as NASCAR heads to Mexico City for the Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on June 14. The 2016 Xfinity Series champion faces a familiar scenario—racing while his contract status is undecided.

Suárez is in his final year under contract with Trackhouse Racing, a team he joined in 2021. Although negotiating deals mid-season is nothing new for him, this time the spotlight is brighter as he prepares to compete in his home country, with family, friends, and thousands of Mexican fans watching.

Suárez has experience handling the pressures of contract talk. In both 2022 and 2024, he went through deals and extensions, including signing after his first Cup win at Sonoma.

Now, he tries to keep his focus on the track, aware that the ongoing speculation can be a distraction. Suárez shared that while he has dealt with uncertainty before, having the situation unfold around such an important event makes it tougher.

He said the Mexico City race is a dream he has waited for, and he doesn’t want anything to affect it. Next week, Suárez will arrive in Mexico City early for three days packed with sponsor meetings before practice starts on the 2.429-mile, 15-turn course.

Born in Monterrey, he usually visits Mexico once or twice each year to see family, but in 2025, he has already made five trips to promote this inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event. The schedule is busier than usual, but Suárez accepts that as part of being the hometown favorite in such a historic race.

On the racing side, Suárez is ranked 28th in the current Cup Series standings and has collected three top-10 finishes, most recently placing 10th at Texas Motor Speedway last month. He says his No. 99 Chevrolet has been showing better pace, and his teammate Ross Chastain recently gave Trackhouse its first win of the season at the Coca-Cola 600.

Suárez believes if his team continues to execute the basics well, a win could put all contract talk to rest. Trackhouse Racing has yet to reveal its lineup for 2026.

The team’s roster includes Chastain, Suárez, Cup Series rookie Shane van Gisbergen, and up-and-comer Connor Zilisch. Zilisch, 18, is making waves with a full Xfinity slate and has recently added more Cup races for 2025.

Among these drivers, only Suárez is in a contract year, and he admits he’s unsure exactly what he wants in his next deal. He meets often with team owner Justin Marks, discussing how to strengthen Trackhouse, especially after a playoff appearance in 2024 and a memorable Atlanta win.

Recently, Suárez talked openly about trying to balance the business side of racing with competition. He hopes to help Trackhouse improve year by year.

He looks back at 2022 as the team’s best season so far, but wants to see the group return to that level—building speed and consistency like NASCAR’s top teams. While dealing with off-track issues is not his favorite part, Suárez says he’s trying to keep his mind on racing and supporting the team, especially during a week as meaningful as this for Mexican motorsports.

As the first NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City draws near, Suárez aims to give fans a strong run and let his results speak for themselves. He knows that a win on home soil would be the perfect answer to any contract questions and would be a landmark moment in his already impressive career. For now, like other drivers adapting to high-pressure situations, he remains focused much like athletes preparing for challenging events such as the Monaco Grand Prix.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.