Daniel Suárez is getting to race on his home soil for the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career. The inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City and Suárez has made it clear: he’s all about performance.
Fifteen races in and the 33-year-old driver is 28th in the standings and without a top 10 in the last four races. Meanwhile, Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain is one of the season’s early stars with eight top 10s and a win.
That’s a big gap and Daniel Suárez is at a crossroads in both his season and his career. He’s not confirmed for 2026 and while he’s dealt with contract uncertainty before, this is the first time it’s followed him into a race on his home turf. The Monterrey native is under no illusions about what’s at stake here.
In a conversation with The Athletic, Daniel Suárez laid out what sounded like a warning:
“Once we get to Friday, it’s time to be selfish because I want to be the best version of myself. And I know we can win the race. But for that, I have to execute everything right, and I have to be on my game.”
The #99 driver arrived in Mexico City early to get acclimated to the high altitude and has stepped up his training to prepare for the unique demands of the track. Although he’s familiar with the venue, the NASCAR Cup Series’ road course configuration is new. Talking to NBC Sports’ Dustin Long, Daniel Suárez said:
“A lot of people think I know the race track, and I actually don’t, “said Suárez. “I’ve never been in that configuration. I have raced there several times in the oval configuration, but never in the road course configuration the way that we’re going to race it. So it’s going to be something new for everyone.”
For Daniel Suárez though, the goal this weekend is simple and immediate. Take advantage of the moment and show what he can do, at home, under pressure and with everything to prove.
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