Racing in NASCAR isn’t all about horsepower, machinery, or the display of skills of some of the best drivers in the world. It’s a contact sport.
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Yes, the sport is as much defined by subtle nudges, hard bumps, and the occasional shove toward the outside wall as by pace. These can lead to conflicts, and Daniel Suarez knows that all too well.
Suarez, on his part, makes it a point to apologize when he believes the contact wasn’t intentional. This comes from his knowledge that every move in the garage holds weight.
Some drivers treat chaos as part of the trade, but he’s seen the consequences and learned the lessons. That’s why, even when apologies can’t undo the damage, the Mexican driver still makes them.
Suarez recognizes that a quick “sorry” doesn’t always repair the wound. He reflected on this back in 2018 during his appearance on Jeff Gluck’s 12 Questions series. “I think it does,” he said, when asked whether apologizing makes a difference after on-track contact, intentional or not.
“At least it does for me. I feel like, as a driver, we race so often, so there’s always a comeback. My mom makes fun of me that I don’t remember a lot of things she says to me, but when it comes to racing, I remember exactly everything,” explained Suarez.
“Like what the car was doing, or who hit me, or who was too aggressive toward me. So eventually, it turns around. We always remember that,” he added.
The former Trackhouse Racing driver then spoke about how apologizing is part of giving and taking respect. “I feel like it’s always good if you did something wrong to apologize and move on. That’s the way I like to do things. It shows respect. But there’s always a line; sometimes the apology is not enough. So you still have that payback in the future,” said Suarez.
The 33-year-old driver is ready to shift his focus toward his next chapter, joining Spire Motorsports in 2026. Suarez signed with the team in October to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet alongside Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar. He will be chasing his first win since the Atlanta spring race in February 2024 and securing his third career postseason berth.
