NASCAR: 5 drivers who have been underperforming
By Asher Fair
Underperforming NASCAR drivers: No. 2 – Daniel Suarez
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Daniel Suarez’s situation is a bit surprising. Last season, in year number two with Trackhouse Racing Team, he appeared to have turned a corner, winning his first race in six seasons in the sport to lock up his first career playoff berth.
He advanced to the round of 12 in his first playoff appearance and had a good chance to go further before a disastrous result in the round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.
Suarez started the 2023 season looking as though he had continued his momentum from last year, reeling off three straight top 10 finishes, including a best finish of fourth place, to open things up. But since then, he has been a non-factor.
Suarez has recorded just two top 14 finishes in 13 races since then, and nine of his 13 results during that stretch are 22nd place or lower. He has dropped to outside the playoff picture, all while teammate Ross Chastain has spent multiple races atop the standings amid another impressive year.
What’s worse for Suarez is the fact that he just finished in 22nd place at Sonoma Raceway, the venue at which he secured his victory last year. Barring some sort of turnaround, his playoff appearance a year ago may have been a one-off.