Mexican driver Daniel Suárez, who has been a central figure in Trackhouse’s rise since its inception, announced the split in a statement on Monday.
“Trackhouse and I have mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the 2025 season,” said Suárez.
“I’ve had some of the best years of my Cup Series career at Trackhouse. We had great successes as a team, and I gained some incredible friends. We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021, and in just a couple of years, we were winning races and running upfront on a weekly basis.”
Suárez joined Trackhouse when it entered the Cup Series in 2021, becoming a core part of the team’s identity. He delivered its first-ever race win at Sonoma in 2022 and added another triumph earlier this year in Atlanta.
Despite his contributions, the emergence of young star Connor Zilisch, widely tipped as Suárez’s replacement in the #99 Chevrolet, put the veteran under increasing pressure.
“Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change and we have agreed to each go in our own direction,” Suárez added.
“I wish Trackhouse nothing but the best. This 99 team will always be special to me. And like I always say, the best is ahead.”
Trackhouse Racing CEO Justin Marks paid tribute to Suárez’s influence on the organisation’s early growth.
“The role Daniel has played in the Trackhouse origin story and its first five years will remain a valued part of the company’s history forever,” Marks said.
“His commitment, work ethic and dedication to the effort are some of the most impressive things I personally have seen in my career. We are proud of his wins, his successes, the growth of his brand, and his emergence as a valuable athlete in America’s greatest motorsport. But, most of all, I’m proud of him as a friend.”
Opportunity for van Gisbergen
Suárez’s exit paves the way for a likely reshuffle that could solidify van Gisbergen’s spot in the 2026 Cup Series roster. While there had been whispers earlier this year about the Kiwi’s future after a slow start to his full-time NASCAR campaign, the move now appears to strengthen his standing within the team.
Van Gisbergen has already proven his potential with a road course win in Mexico City. While not officially secured just yet, Shane van Gisbergen is on track for a playoff berth after his win in Mexico, barring the highly unlikely scenario of seven new winners emerging in the final ten regular-season races. As things currently stand, the Cup Series rookie is in playoff position.
Another thing worth watching is the battle for Rookie of the Year between van Gisbergen and Riley Herbst of 23XI Racing. The pair have run closely in points for much of the season, but if Herbst also misses out on a playoff spot, van Gisbergen is poised to claim the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year title.
Van Gisbergen continues to prove his rapid progression on ovals, with last weekend’s performance at Atlanta Motor Speedway serving as the latest example. Starting deep in the field from 35th, he charged through the pack on pure pace alone, reaching 13th before any incidents unfolded.
When the crashes did begin, they happened around or behind him, as he had already broken into the top ten. He ended Stage 2 in an impressive seventh place and even found himself running as high as second, battling Ty Gibbs for the race lead.
Crucially, van Gisbergen has developed a strong working relationship with Marks, who has been publicly supportive of giving the three-time Supercars champion time to learn the ropes.
Though Trackhouse has yet to officially announce its full 2026 Cup driver lineup, a trio of Ross Chastain, van Gisbergen, and rising talent Connor Zilisch is now seen as the most likely configuration.
Zilisch, who is part of Trackhouse’s development system and a Red Bull athlete, recently claimed his first oval win at Pocono and has been following a similar path to van Gisbergen, getting acclimated to Cup-level racing through a limited number of races.
For van Gisbergen, the timing couldn’t be better. With Suárez stepping aside, the Kiwi appears increasingly secure as a key part of Trackhouse’s long-term plans, pending official confirmation.
The 2026 season may well see SVG lining up alongside Chastain and Zilisch in what promises to be one of the most dynamic and diverse driver lineups on the Cup Series grid.
Header Image: Supplied
