DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daniel Suarez says he was never concerned about his racing future and insists he won’t be down the road despite signing a one-year contract extension with Trackhouse Racing for 2023.
Suarez, 30, made it clear Friday that he accepted a short-term deal with the belief that it could lead to long-term job security once NASCAR and its teams have more financial clarity once the racing series lands a new media rights deal. The next deal should be known by the end of next year.
“We decided to do it this way for now,” Suarez said. “The same way that I wasn’t worried about this contract I’m not really worried about next year, either. … Trackhouse is my home now. They know that and we’re working together extremely well.”
Suarez, who joined Trackhouse before its inaugural season in 2021, won his first race this year and is locked into the playoffs. He took the checkered flag at Sonoma Raceway in June, becoming the first Mexican-born driver to win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
He said the sides have been talking about an extension since.
“I knew it was going to happen,” he said. “It was just a matter of time. I’ve been paying way more attention to driving than anything else. It definitely feels good, but I have known about it for a while that it was going to happen.”
The deal provides some stability for Suarez, who bounced around for the first four years of his Cup career. He began at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017, moved to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2019 and then landed at Gaunt Brothers Racing the following year.
Suarez currently ranks 12th in points heading into the regular-season finale at Daytona.
His contract is the latest in a series of team extension announcements, including Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney at Team Penske and Bubba Wallace at 23XI Racing.