NASCAR: Subway Drops Suarez in Move Panned By Fans

By Alex Herbst | Sep 4, 2017

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JUNE 29: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 Subway Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on June 29, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

In what appears to fans to be a weak-willed move, Subway has dropped their sponsorship of Daniel Suarez and Joe Gibbs Racing, effective immediately.

Sponsors make the racing world go around. There’s no one way around it. And when a sponsor leaves a team or the sport entirely, fans often chime in with their frustration, disappointment, and resentment. The same occurred over the Southern 500 race weekend, when it was revealed that Subway has terminated their agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing and Daniel Suarez.

Subway, who had been a sponsor for Joe Gibbs Racing dating back to when Carl Edwards arrived to the team three years ago, cited “circumstances outside of their control” as to why they left the team. The sandwich restaurant was expected to sponsor the #19 Toyota for one more race in 2017, and was reportedly in negotiations to return to JGR in 2018.

Motorsport.com has reported that Subway left due to a segment on NASCAR on NBC where Suarez appeared with features reporter Rutledge Wood, handing out Dunkin’ Donuts to fans in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway infield. The two different restaurants compete in the breakfast market, as Subway has served the early morning food since 2010.

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The move by Subway to depart from Suarez, a rising star in NASCAR, was met by resistance by many fans on social media. The overwhelming message to the company from fans has been that they are being too thin-skinned, getting frustrated over a single segment of television advertising rather than considering the growing role of the driver.

Suarez is reaching a new demographic of NASCAR fans, and the idea that Subway does not want to have a part in this is surprising to say the very least.

Of course, this is not to say that Subway will not remain in NASCAR in some capacity. Subway has previously sponsored drivers Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, bringing the company’s colors to Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. The sandwich makers also previously held naming rights to the summer Xfinity Series race at Daytona.

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What do you think about Subway terminating their sponsorship of Daniel Suarez? Will you still be eating at the sandwich shop following their surprising exit from stock car racing? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned to Beyond The Flag for all the latest from around the world of NASCAR.