NASCAR: 5 driver moves we want to see for 2023
By Asher Fair
NASCAR driver moves we want to see: No. 4 – Daniel Suarez long-term deal
Earlier in the season, specifically after Ross Chastain secured the first two victories of his NASCAR Cup Series career in just his first year behind the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing Team, there were questions about what the Justin Marks and Pitbull-owned organization might decide to do with the #99 Chevrolet.
Daniel Suarez was brought on as the team’s first driver in 2021, and after a year of growing pains last year, he was still seeking his first career victory in his sixth season as a full-time Cup Series driver.
Despite the obvious cultural fit with the young organization, would they decide to move on and perhaps make a big offer for somebody such as Kyle Busch?
But after Suarez earned his first career victory at Sonoma Raceway, the team stated that there is 100% chance of the 31-year-old Mexican being back behind the wheel of the #99 Chevrolet next year. In fact, team president Ty Norris added that the victory had no impact on that decision.
More than two months have passed since then, however, and nothing has been announced. He still doesn’t have a deal to compete in 2023.
While it would seem as though a contract extension for Suarez, who is set to advance to the playoffs for the first time in his Cup Series career, is nothing but a formality, you just never know in this day and age of silly season — not just in NASCAR, but across all forms of motorsport.
Our hope for Suarez is that he is able to sign a long-term extension with the team that runs through at least the 2024 season, as he finally seems to be coming into his own this year with an organization which has given him a car capable of running at the front.
Bubba Wallace, who was in a similar situation last year as a new team’s first ever driver, recently signed a long-term extension with his team, 23XI Racing, and he was already set to return in 2023. Let’s hope the same happens for Suarez.