Daniel Suárez has broken his silence on the real reasons behind his departure from Trackhouse Racing, revealing that the writing had been on the wall for months before the official announcement. With Connor Zilisch being speculated to replace the Cup Series veteran, Suárez finds himself without a ride for 2026.
The Mexican driver’s latest comments paint a picture of a relationship that had soured long before the public announcement, adding new depth to what many assumed was simply a performance-based decision.
Daniel Suárez Reveals the Truth Behind Trackhouse Split
While Suárez’s inconsistent results and Zilisch’s promising performances seemed to explain the driver change, the veteran has now revealed what really happened behind closed doors. The truth paints a more complex picture of organizational dysfunction and communication breakdown.
Speaking during his media availability on Saturday, Suárez revealed he had known for six to eight months that Trackhouse wouldn’t be moving forward with him in 2026. However, he wasn’t allowed to discuss the situation publicly until the official announcement on July 1.
The revelation brought relief to the 33-year-old driver, who could finally speak openly about the deteriorating relationship. Suarez explained that the partnership had simply run its course, with both sides growing apart over time.
“It’s just like everything in life, things change, people change, the company changes, and that’s OK, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Suárez said. “There just wasn’t a love anymore. There are no hard feelings at all.”
The driver’s comments suggest the split went deeper than on-track performance. While Ross Chastain has outperformed Suárez statistically at Trackhouse, the No. 99 driver indicated that internal issues played a significant role in the decision.
Communication Breakdown and Organizational Issues
In a follow-up interview with Bob Pockrass, Suárez provided more details about the internal problems at Trackhouse. He revealed that his crew chief, Matt Swiderski, had also noticed significant organizational issues that needed addressing.
Results say Ross Chastain has run better than Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse. So the question is why. I asked Suarez, who won’t be back at Trackhouse next year, about that and he had some thoughts. He said Chastain is a great driver but also Suarez felt his voice wasn’t being heard. pic.twitter.com/WlRyfTeSct
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 5, 2025
The most telling aspect of Suárez’s comments was his feeling that his voice wasn’t being heard when he raised concerns. Despite his experience and tenure with the team, the driver felt marginalized when attempting to contribute to solutions.
“There were a lot of things that needed change, but whenever I raised a voice, I felt like I wasn’t as important to the team,” Suárez explained. This sense of being undervalued clearly contributed to the breakdown in the relationship.
The situation becomes even more poignant when considering Suárez’s original intentions. The veteran driver had hoped to finish his career with Trackhouse Racing, making the split particularly disappointing on a personal level.
“I just want to find that home again,” Suárez concluded, highlighting his desire to find a team where he feels valued and heard.
These revelations add context to Suárez’s earlier comments on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, where he maintained a positive outlook about his departure. Rather than expressing sadness, he framed the situation as the beginning of a new chapter, calling it a change rather than something to mourn.
With the Chicago Street Race weekend underway, Suarez continues to compete for Trackhouse while his future remains uncertain. His candid comments about the organization’s internal issues provide rare insight into how driver-team relationships can deteriorate even when both parties maintain professional facades.
The driver’s search for a new “home” in NASCAR will likely intensify as the 2025 season progresses, with teams potentially viewing his experience and willingness to speak up as valuable assets rather than liabilities.