Latest news with #DanielSuárez
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Trackhouse Racing looks to bridge gap with big race teams. It took a big step with Coca-Cola 600 win
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Trackhouse Racing has won nine Cup Series races since opening in 2021. None as big as Sunday night's race. Ross Chastain became the first driver since Bobby Allison 56 years ago to win a race from an official starting position of last when he passed William Byron with six laps remaining to capture the Coca-Cola 600, giving team owner Justin Marks his first crown jewel win. In a time when the Cup racing seems largely dominated by Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske, the little guys got a much-needed breakthrough win. 'It's sinking in that we won the Coke 600,' Chastain said. 'What that means for the team and me, I don't know yet. I'm excited to find out, though.' For Chastain, it means returning to the NASCAR playoffs after missing out last year. Meanwhile, Marks is hoping it is a sign of bigger things to come. Trackhouse Racing has three full-time drivers now in the Cup Series — Chastain, Daniel Suárez and newcomer Shane van Gisbergen. The team also is trying out a fourth in developmental driver Connor Zilisch, who got a start at the Coca-Cola 600. Marks said he spends most of his waking moments trying to figure out how to close the gap between his team and the Hendricks, Gibbs and Penskes of the racing world. And Sunday night was a big step. 'Now, if we want to be intellectually lazy, we can just say, 'Well, they have more money and they have more people.' I think that that's certainly important. They have a lot of resources, and that's very important,' Marks said. 'If you look back in 2022, we had 20 (different) winners. Then those teams that have all those resources, they're learning and their development curve is quick because they've got the resources to put behind it.' Marks believes NASCAR's new NextGen cars — which promote more parity across the series — help bridge the gap for smaller racing teams. 'I would not have started Trackhouse and raced in the Cup Series if they didn't go to this race car because that provides an opportunity to close the gap,' Marks said. Marks said the first thing he's learned about NASCAR is that it's a people business, and that hiring motivated, team-oriented workers means everything. 'We're looking at things like developing a more robust aero department, looking at the way we structure our engineering, looking at those things to make sure we get back on the development curve with those three,' Marks said. 'It just takes very thoughtful examination, and it's a process that probably will never stop because Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing are just very, very strong, talented organizations.' But at least for one night, that examination was put on hold. It was time to celebrate. There was plenty of hooting and hollering from the Chastain faithful more than two hours after his win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the driver spent time soaking it all in. He had a beer or two before leaving the track, but only after honoring Alan Kulwicki with a Polish victory lap and tossing a watermelon from his race car onto the track and joining fans in the crowd. Marks said everything about Chastain and his can-do attitude is perfect for his organization. 'We started last, but Ross' confidence was really high,' Marks said. 'After we wrecked in practice, Ross left the care center, came back over and had a smile on his face. He was pumped because he knew we'd unloaded with speed. Ross is one of the best drivers in the Cup Series. He puts the team on his shoulders as we try to rebuild. ... This is a moment that holds major significance for everyone in the company, and it's such an honor to win at this place.' ___ AP auto racing:
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
NASCAR's ‘Full Speed' returns to Netflix: Takeaways from a slowed-down Season 2
The second year of Netflix's 'Full Speed' might be the second-best NASCAR docuseries season ever produced. The problem is that Season 1 was so exceptional, it makes the latest edition feel like it fell short. Season 2, released Wednesday, is solid enough to warrant a third year. Hopefully, this isn't the end of NASCAR's time on Netflix. The new season lacks the magic and freshness of the inaugural season that drew so many raves, and some moments feel repetitive of last year. There's not as much of an emotional punch, nor are there breakout, scene-stealing characters (like Bootie Barker in the Guenther Steiner role from the Formula One 'Drive to Survive' docuseries). Still, many NASCAR fans will find it worth watching. Here are takeaways from Season 2 of 'Full Speed' (spoilers below). All-access again We're granted a peek behind the curtain for key playoff drivers and learn a few things along the way. William Byron takes us inside a session with his sports therapist — something he says he's never revealed publicly until now. We get to see the tender moment of Daniel Suárez greeting his father at the airport and letting him see his car collection in person for the first time. We ride along in Gianna Blaney's party bus en route to Homestead (and see her go wedding dress shopping) and experience some of the early-life moments of Chase Briscoe's twins. There are fun mic'd-up moments, although fewer than last season. For example: As NASCAR debates the Championship 4 lineup at Martinsville, Joey Logano approaches Ryan Blaney on the victory stage. 'Dude, it's a s—show back there right now. It's a whole thing. They haven't announced the four yet,' Logano tells a surprised Blaney. 'Hey, I know we're in,' Blaney laughs. Drivers featured the most in the off-track scenes include eventual champion Logano and Blaney, along with Byron, Briscoe and Suárez. Drivers like Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Harrison Burton get some decent screen time. But it's Christopher Bell who is shown the most, which was Hamlin's role last year. And with good reason: It certainly felt like Bell's year for much of the playoffs, until it wasn't, which means part of the story must be told through his eyes. A reminder of the playoff randomness Last year, it was revealed that 88 percent of 'Full Speed' viewers did not watch the previous season's championship race, underscoring the high number of potential new fans watching the show. Imagine being among that target audience, unfamiliar with the inner workings of NASCAR, and seeing how the playoffs unfolded this time. It's a Walmart sign falling on the racetrack in Atlanta to thwart Suárez's hopes. It's Logano getting eliminated after the race at the Charlotte Roval, only to be restored into the field hours later after Alex Bowman's disqualification. It's NASCAR taking 30 minutes to decide whether Bell was in or out after riding the wall at Martinsville. Producers had more to work with in terms of storylines and personalities early in the playoffs, and 'Full Speed' admirably tries to get us invested in drivers like Burton, Suárez and Briscoe (none were in the playoffs in Season 1). They were all eliminated by the end of Episode 3, which made their storylines feel too brief or rushed. Wives take center stage While the drivers play it relatively low-key and don't have much interesting to say in Season 2, their wives show more personality. 'We sent our boy to war on a donkey holding a wooden spoon,' a seething Julia Piquet says of Suárez's car after Bristol. 'Is it just me, or is it completely unacceptable that our teammate runs 10th and is not even in the playoffs? Why the f— aren't the two teams helping each other?' Morgan Bell openly tears up over the stress and heartbreak of the playoffs, the series' symbol of the postseason's human toll. Gianna Blaney delights in her famed 'Ryan F—ing Blaney' line from Season 1, and the series has multiple callbacks to it (we're shown various shirts worn by fans who embraced it). Meanwhile, the drivers are portrayed as normal people who don't live flashy or remarkable lives; essentially the opposite of the F1 docuseries. Briscoe describes himself as 'the most average person in the world,' and analyst Steve Letarte notes people wouldn't recognize him in a grocery store. Bell is described by Letarte as 'just that guy that is there' and by ESPN's Marty Smith as having a 'non-boisterous, non-polarizing, never-says-anything-to-piss-anybody-off kind of vibe.' Morgan says her husband's consistency is 'for some reason, not exciting.' But in terms of the most drama this season, it's ultimately focused around Bell. Race manipulation? Didn't happen One of the biggest questions going into the season was how Netflix would handle two sticky issues in the playoffs: First, the Bowman disqualification that restored Logano into the next round after he was eliminated. Second, the controversial race manipulation at Martinsville. The show handled the Bowman part as well as it could, surprising viewers the same way it felt in real time. We got to see Logano's immediate thoughts after the race ended ('Upset? Of course it hurts'), and then a follow-up the next morning after the driver was back in the playoffs ('All of a sudden, Netflix wants to talk to me again!'). But the series inexplicably leaves out a major moment at Martinsville and creates a gaping hole when it fails to address the Chevrolet race manipulation (which prompted major penalties and an offseason rule change). Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon playing blockers for Byron is never shown, nor is any audio played regarding their move; same with Bubba Wallace, who tried to return the Chevrolet favor on behalf of Bell. Instead, the sole focus is on Bell's wall ride and whether it was legal. Perhaps that's because NASCAR focused on the wall ride to determine the Championship 4, but the context of why Bell had to make that move was never presented. At least there's plenty of coverage of how unfair it felt to Bell, who tells the cameras, 'That judgment call from NASCAR was a life-altering call. They took a potential championship away from me.' His bitter news conference at Phoenix, where he proclaims he was 'robbed,' is also shown. Radioactive What made 'Full Speed' compelling last time were the rich storylines and nuggets that felt new even to the most hardcore NASCAR fan, like Hamlin's father keeping his Michael Jordan victory cigar behind glass. This time, moments felt reminiscent of Fox Sports' weekly 'Radioactive' feature, which pairs radio chatter with a cinema-quality race recap. Do 'Full Speed' viewers need to care about what happened in Stage 1 of the Talladega race? Perhaps producers didn't have as much to work with. Some of the main characters, like Byron, Blaney and Logano, were highlighted in the first season and didn't seem to have many new developments in their lives, aside from Blaney building a pool in his backyard and planning a wedding. In general, last year's playoffs fell flat. The outcome generated an offseason of conversation, and NASCAR has formed a committee to look at potentially changing the format. Logano, of course, is adamant he does not care about perception. 'It's easy to look at our season and say, 'Boy, they got lucky,'' Logano tells the camera. 'I just don't see it that way.' This season of 'Full Speed' may not have been as satisfying for viewers, but neither were the playoffs themselves. Hollywood can only do so much. (Top photo of William Byron being interviewed after his controversial win at Martinsville last November: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Daniel Suárez continues Mission 600 with 82nd Airborne Division
Ahead of next month's historic 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend, Charlotte Motor Speedway continued its 2025 Mission 600 campaign Wednesday, visiting the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg with Coca-Cola Racing Family driver Daniel Suárez. Now in its eighth year, Mission 600 brings together NASCAR drivers with units from regional military bases in an effort to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and to build meaningful connections between the worlds of motorsports and the military. Advertisement 'I have always appreciated the military — what all the men and women do for this amazing country,' said Suárez. 'But when you get to experience exactly what they have to do 24/7, it's just a completely different level… Huge respect for them. The level of discipline is pretty high. I very, very much appreciate the opportunity.' RELATED: Buy Coca-Cola 600 tickets During his visit, Suárez spent the day learning about the equipment and training that paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne receive. With coaching by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and 16th Military Police Brigade, the Trackhouse Racing driver strapped on parachutes and gear, then leaped from the installation's 34-foot jump tower. Suárez also participated in live-fire exercises, learning weapons systems ranging from grenade training to firing the M4 Carbine and a Howitzer, a 105mm weapon that uses a six-man team — much like a NASCAR pit crew — to aim and fire. He finished the day behind the controls of two helicopter flight simulators. 'I never thought they were going to let me jump out of the tower, or try to fly in the simulator or get on the big machine gun — the big, automatic one. I think I burned 150 bullets in a minute,' Suárez said. 'Doing all these different things, for them, it's normal, but for me — today was the very first time I grabbed a 9mm gun. I think they call it a 'pistol.' It's quite an experience and I feel very fortunate to be part of it.' Advertisement Fort Bragg is the largest military installation by population in the U.S., providing the infrastructure and training that enables a ready, capable force to fight and win the nation's wars. The 82nd Airborne Division is America's immediate response force – ready to deploy and answer the nation's call in 18 hours. At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Memorial Day Weekend provides the opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. With the support of the U.S. Department of Defense, the patriotic Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show includes representation from all six major branches of the military.
New York Times
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
NASCAR Mailbag: Chicago Street Race's future, Trackhouse's decision and more
With the NASCAR Cup Series pausing for the only time this season before returning for 28 consecutive weeks, now is a good time to tackle reader questions about the sport. And there is no shortage of topics to address. (Editor's note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and length.) What is the plan/rumors for the Chicago Street Race date in 2026? Is there another city looming as a frontrunner for a street race, and/or will Chicagoland be back? — Bill H. NASCAR's three-year contract with Chicago to race downtown expires at the end of the current season, with the deal containing options that could see the partnership continue past 2025. It's not clear whether NASCAR will return next year, but there is a growing sense in the garage that it may be time to conclude the partnership — lest diminishing returns begin to set in, much like how the Clash was shifted away from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after three years. Advertisement If NASCAR decides to end its successful first venture to race downtown in a major city, what's next? Does it fill the created hole on the schedule by seeking a new city to host a street-course race, or add another oval? NASCAR has made it clear they want to race in Southern California, with sources involved in the discussions indicating San Diego has been explored as a host for a street-course race. It's unclear if a deal could come together in time for 2026, and there are other markets NASCAR is exploring, including the long-untapped Pacific Northwest. Looking at oval options, a return to the Chicagoland Speedway certainly makes sense for multiple reasons. Although the track is located in Joliet, Illinois, it is still close enough to Chicago for NASCAR to maintain a presence in the United States' third-largest market. That's key. And Chicagoland, at a mile-and-a-half and with a worn surface, is an ideal fit for the Next Gen car, so the likelihood of a stellar race is high. Yes, Chicagoland needs some upgrades, as can be expected for a facility that last hosted a Cup Series race in 2019. But those improvements aren't deemed cost-prohibitive, according to league sources, and would be significantly less than what it costs to build and host a race in downtown Chicago. From this perspective, if the Chicago Street Course isn't on the 2026 schedule and San Diego is a year away, Chicagoland represents a worthy stopgap. What do you think Trackhouse will do with Daniel Suárez at the end of the year? — Michael P. Trackhouse's Cup Series driver lineup next year hinges on whether the team feels 18-year-old wonderkid Connor Zilisch is ready for a promotion after just one year in the Xfinity Series. So far, he's lived up to the hype that accompanied his arrival with one win and ranking third in laps led. Advertisement If Trackhouse elevates Zilisch, they would need to decide who to keep between Suárez or Shane van Gisbergen. (Ross Chastain has multiple years remaining on his contract.) A case could be made for and against either driver. But Trackhouse also needs to demonstrate to Suárez it can provide him with consistently competitive equipment. Last summer, when Suárez announced he would return to Trackhouse in 2025, the driver made it known he opted for a one-year extension because he wanted to see the team, which once consistently fielded some of the fastest cars on the track, pull itself out of a performance downturn. Of course, all this could be moot if Zilisch stays in Xfinity for a second year. In this instance, the runway is clear for Trackhouse to bring back both Suárez and van Gisbergen, kicking any decision a year down the road. Do you expect Dodge to return to the Cup Series? If so, what team(s) are most likely to switch manufacturers? Possibly Trackhouse? — Rich S. As The Athletic reported in February, Dodge is preparing to return to NASCAR in 2026 in the Truck Series. The manufacturer is then expected to advance to the Cup Series in short order — sources involved in the discussions say anywhere between one to three years is a reasonable timeline. An official announcement on these plans is anticipated sometime this summer. Which teams will align with Dodge upon its arrival in Cup is to be determined. Looking at the current landscape, Trackhouse is an intriguing team any new manufacturer would want within its ranks. The team has shown it can win races, nearly won the 2022 championship, plus has a forward-thinking owner in Justin Marks whose approach would benefit a new manufacturer seeking to create an impression. It also wouldn't hurt Trackhouse to leave Chevrolet, where it will forever be underneath the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut, to be a manufacturer's flagship team. Advertisement How well do you think the Next Gen car would perform at Rockingham? Any plans on bringing the Cup Series back there soon? — Mathew P. It has been reported that the Xfinity Series has sold out the Rockingham race this weekend. When was the last time the Xfinity Series sold out a race? How does this help play into a future Cup Series return? — Connor C. Rockingham was once a mainstay on the Cup schedule before dropping off after the 2004 season and effectively closing its doors before reopening to host a single Truck Series race during the 2012 and 2013 seasons — though both were sparsely attended. And much like longtime fans pined for North Wilkesboro Speedway to again land a Cup date, there is a contingent of fans who'd like Rockingham to follow suit. But should Rockingham be considered for a Cup race? It's complicated. First and foremost, fans need to attend. And not just this weekend but for future races as well, even after the novelty wears off. Even then, a look at the map shows why it's hard to see how Rockingham fits on the current Cup calendar. Presently, there are five tracks (Bowman Gray, Charlotte, Darlington, Martinsville and North Wilkesboro) two hours or less from NASCAR's Charlotte, N.C., hub that host a combined eight races. This means 21 percent of the 38-race schedule is concentrated in this region. If NASCAR wants to expand its footprint across North America, adding to that logjam won't help. If the racing proves exceptional and the crowd support is stupendous, maybe NASCAR finds a way to slot in Rockingham on a future Cup schedule. But right now, the best-case scenario is for fans to enjoy Rockingham for what it is now, not wonder about future possibilities. Regarding the last time an Xfinity Series race sold out, that would be last summer at Iowa Speedway. How does NASCAR fix its attendance problem? On TV, it looked like Bristol and Martinsville were empty. — Rich S. On the podcast, you often mention how much NASCAR is sustained by the TV money. To what degree? How thin are NASCAR's margins because they've been willing to spend lots of money for new exploits (Chicago, L.A. Coliseum, Mexico City, etc.) — Jonathan P. Advertisement With NASCAR not publicizing attendance figures, it's hard to know if the sport is facing a bigger overall problem or if Bristol and Martinsville should be considered outliers. But any time this issue comes up, context matters. The weather was a factor; the forecast leading into Martinsville called for rain, which likely hurt walkup sales, and Bristol was both rainy and cold. Hard to fault fans for not wanting to come out for either race, and each track also has a second date that tends to resonate more with the ticket-buying public. While having packed grandstands is important, it's not the most important factor in NASCAR's current health. The best barometer is television ratings, and on this front, the sport is doing well this season. Even though viewership was down this week, Bristol still was the second-most watched sport of the weekend, trailing only the Masters on CBS and ESPN, per data shared by NASCAR. That NASCAR routinely ranks as the first- or second-most watched sport during the spring and holds its own against the NFL in the fall is why it recently signed a record media rights deal that generates billions. And this revenue is the lifeblood of the sport, allowing NASCAR to construct a purpose-built oval inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for $1 million-plus and a street circuit in downtown Chicago for an estimated $50 million. When do you think the schedule will be coming out for next year, and where is one place you think would be a great fit to see them race? — Trevor S. The schedule is typically released late summer, early fall. Expect a similar timeline this year. As for which track not already on the schedule that would be a worthy addition, Chicagoland is the one that immediately jumps out. In its final years, it had evolved into a great showcase for what stock car racing should look like on an intermediate track and this was even with the previous generation of cars that didn't often perform well on this type of track. Imagine how well the Next Gen car would do there. Advertisement Is Matt Kenseth still working with Legacy Motor Club? I remember seeing him a few times at the track after the announcement that he had joined the team, but haven't heard anything recently. — Kevin K. Yes, Matt Kenseth is still working with Legacy Motor Club on the competition side, where his many duties include effectively serving as a coach for LMC drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. Kenseth was spotted inside one of the LMC haulers this past weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Top photo of the 2024 Chicago Street Race: Ben Hsu / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Goodyear option tire returns to Cup Series for Phoenix spring race
NASCAR announced on Jan. 22 that the Goodyear option tire will return to the NASCAR Cup Series for the spring weekend at Phoenix Raceway. It will be the same process that was utilized for the summer race at Richmond Raceway last year where each Cup Series team was given six primary sets of tires for the race and two sets of option tires. RELATED: | The goal of the option tire is to increase grip, which can provide more pace to the car. The trade-off, however, is that it is designed to wear significantly faster than the primary tire, so while a driver may gain track position in a short amount of time, they could lose it on a long run and have to pit sooner for fresh tires. 'Phoenix has been an important track, with it being the site of championship weekend for the past several years,' Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager of global race tires, said in a press release. 'This weekend we continue with the development of the short-track package for the Cup Series, and we will have an option tire as part of the racing. We quite successfully ran an option twice last season so we now get a look at it on a racy, 1-mile track. Cup teams will have two sets of options for the race so we'll see, like at the second Richmond race last season, how teams will deploy them to best maximize their strategy.' The option tire made its debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway in last year's edition of the All-Star Race before NASCAR competition officials used the allotment for a points-paying event. The use of the option tire shook up pit strategy at Richmond, with drivers like Daniel Suárez reaping the benefits to lead 93 laps and turn in a top-10 result. A NASCAR spokesperson said that if the option tire works well during the spring Phoenix race, it would become the primary tire for the championship race at Phoenix in November. There would be no option tire for the championship race. Wet-weather tires will also be deployed at Phoenix in case of inclement weather this weekend. Teams will be allotted four sets of wet-weather tires for the event. Drivers will have one primary set of tires and one option set for practice at Phoenix ahead of the Shriners Children's 500 on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The extended 45-minute practice session is set for 2:05 p.m. Saturday on Prime Video. Following Sunday's race, Goodyear will hold a tire test on Monday with Austin Dillon (Chevrolet), Josh Berry (Ford) and Tyler Reddick (Toyota) participating as their OEM representatives.
