NASCAR’s historic debut Cup Series race outside the U.S. experienced early turbulence on Friday, as travel issues delayed the arrival of several teams and their crews. Among the hardest hit was Trackhouse Racing — Daniel Suarez‘s No. 99 team.
Despite arriving ahead of schedule, Suarez faced an uphill battle in Friday’s practice, hindered by the absence of crucial crew members that disrupted the No. 99’s rhythm. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s historic race, the 33-year-old offered a frank assessment, laying out their situation rather bluntly.
Daniel Suarez Left Shorthanded Ahead of His Homecoming
The No. 99 driver entered Friday’s session without key team members after two chartered flights arranged by NASCAR to transport Cup and Xfinity teams to Mexico City were grounded. One was halted due to an engine issue during takeoff, while the other was delayed because its crew had exceeded their allowable flight hours.
Although Suarez, the only Mexican driver on the grid, made it to Mexico City early by Tuesday, the team had just five team members at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for Friday’s practice.
Following practice, Suarez opened up about the challenging session, revealing just how much the team was impacted. “One of my main mechanics is not here yet, all my engineers are not here yet,” he said. “So, definitely today we’re limping a little bit. But I love adversity, I love it. You put me against the wall, and I’m going to come at you swinging, and my team is the same way. So, I’m good with it; this is just going to be a better story.”
Daniel Suarez on not having all his team members here for practice today and those who got here, got here couple hours after garage opened. pic.twitter.com/kNg2ksbSiy
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 13, 2025
“We win on Sunday, and then we’re going to be laughing about, ‘We almost didn’t make practice.’ So I’m okay with it. It’s a shame that it happened, but we don’t blame anyone; we just find solutions and we continue to move forward,” the driver added, remaining upbeat while sharing a few laughs and staying optimistic.
In fact, the No. 99 had just five team members for Friday’s session: crew chief Matt Swiderski, the car chief, interior specialist, engine tuner, and tire specialist. Suarez’s full crew roster includes 20 people, Swiderski revealed to NBC Sports.
However, despite a shortage of crew members, Suarez finished 12th in the first Practice session and ninth in the second.
Suarez remains determined as he prepares for one of the most meaningful races of his career, not just as a driver seeking a win but also as a proud Mexican competing on home soil.