Trackhouse Racing announced early this summer that Daniel Suárez would not return as the driver of the No. 99 car next season. One year removed from making the playoffs, Suárez is now entering NASCAR free agency at a time of significant uncertainty. However, there could be one Cup Series spot on the table.
Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that Spire Motorsports driver Justin Haley is very much on the hot seat right now. While an official decision on his 2026 status hasn’t been made, Suárez is a potential replacement option if the team moves off Haley.
“One potential option is if Spire elects to move on from Haley. Signing Suárez would give Spire a veteran who has won multiple races and would be highly motivated to prove he deserves to remain in Cup.”
The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi on Spire Motorsports as a potential landing spot for Daniel Suarez
Related: Trackhouse Prospect Connor Zilisch to Make Big Announcement
- Daniel Suarez stats (Cup Series): 363 points, 3 top 10s, 1 top five, 6 DNFs, 30 laps led, 23.826 average starting position, 22.0 average finishing position
However, even that isn’t a given. That’s because Spire is still undecided on whether Suárez would even be an upgrade in the No. 7 car over Haley. Even if the seat is offered, per Bianchi, Suárez “would likely prefer” a multi-year deal, and Spire would likely want to keep its options open for a deeper and more talented pool of NASCAR free agents following the 2026 season.
Trackhouse offers better equipment than Spire, but Haley has a better finishing position (21.304) and fewer DNFs (one) than Suárez. On the other hand, Suárez won a Cup race last season (Ambetter Health 400), and he has more top-20 finishes (three) than Haley (one) this year.
Related: NASCAR Standings, see where Daniel Suarez sits
Most around racing agree that the best option for Suárez is to return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He could drive for JR Motorsports, which is poised to lose Connor Zilisch to the Cup level, the same team Suárez won The Chilango 150 at Mexico City with in June. He would be a championship contender, with a strong season in 2026 positioning him to land a better Cup ride the following offseason.
Suárez, who turns 34 years old in January, has made it clear that he wants to remain in the Cup Series, where he can make significantly more money. However, considering how few open seats there are for next season, he might be left with no other option but to return to the Xfinity Series.
Related: NASCAR Drivers on the Hot Seat, including Daniel Suarez
