Daniel Suarez was the first driver Justin Marks signed when he formed Trackhouse Racing. And from the 2021 season, Suarez has played his part in making the team a formidable force in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, his time in the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro could end soon, with Connor Zilisch waiting in the wings.
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Suarez had a forgettable performance in the latest Cup Series race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Right at the start of the third and final stage, he collided with the inside barrier and got into Zilisch’s path. Both drivers had to retire because of the damage to their cars. Zilisch was on his way to a decent finish in his debut race at that point.
The 18-year-old was one of the fastest in Stage 2 and broke into the top 15, climbing up the field after a mishap in Lap 1 that put him outside the top 30. His excellent comeback was derailed by the mistake Suarez made. Fans, understandably, were unhappy with many speculating that Zilisch might replace Suarez as a full-time driver with Trackhouse Racing.
A thread began on X with a fan posting: “As a Suarez fan I’ve fully accepted he’s getting fired after this year.” A reply to the post stated, “The writing is on the wall for sure.”
Marks had reiterated last year that Suarez was a key part of his plans for Trackhouse Racing. But how much longer can mediocrity on the race track be tolerated? Suarez finished 13th in the opening race of the season at Daytona. Since then, his fortunes have slid with a P33 (DNF) at Atlanta, and P36 at COTA.
Another fan, who was dejected by Suarez’s showing so far and impressed with Zilisch, said, “Definitely trending that way! Especially with ‘sliced bread 2.0’ Connor !! On the roster! He’s going win a lot of races soon.”
Pitbull was the glue that kept Suarez and Trackhouse Racing together all this time. Now that the musician is no longer a part of the ownership group, things seem to be heading toward uncertainty for Suarez.
One fan pointed this out, saying, “Now that Pitbull is out, it’s only a matter of time.” Another fan spoke about the possibility of Suarez turning things around since the season has just begun: “Still a long season, but yeah, this isn’t a promising start.”
The 33-year-old driver can indeed make amends with some solid performances in the upcoming races. However, by this time last year, momentum was on his side, after he won a race in the second week of the season.
Suarez is in a spot of bother now, and the crash that took out Zilisch has added to his woes.
Did Zilisch blame Suarez for derailing his debut race?
Zilisch got to COTA with the understanding that he must not pick fights with his seniors on the race track. He wanted to avoid aggressive displays and keep it all clean. And so, he did not point any fingers at Suarez despite the crash.
He told the press about the biggest lesson he learned. “How to race against veterans. These guys are all really smart and very calculated,” said the 18-year-old.
“Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to come back and do this again. I had an absolute blast driving through the field, and I wish it didn’t end early,” he added, refraining from faulting any other driver for the way his day ended.
Considering the impressive race he put together till the wreck, it won’t be long before he is offered another chance to drive in the Cup Series. Suarez, in the meantime, will need to pick up his performances to keep Zilisch at bay and protect his seat.
