In one of the best keep secrets in NASCAR, Monster Energy Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez has finally revealed what his future holds…a new ride.
In the perfect birthday present, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Daniel Suarez will be taking over driving duties of the number 41 car. The spot was vacated by Kurt Busch when he left after last season to drive for Chip Ganassi Racing. Suarez will be joining SHR team members Kevin Harvick, Aric Almrola, and Clint Bowyer.
The new team also means a new car manufacturer for Suarez who has been driving a Toyota as a part of JGR; he will now be driving a Ford. This season the Ford drivers will have a new model – the Mustang – which replaces the Fusion.
Speaking on the shift, Suarez said, “It is different, for sure. If you look at it, I had a long career with Toyota, pretty much my entire career in NASCAR — not just in the U.S., but in Mexico. They were nothing but great to me. Great people, great company and I have nothing bad to say about them. They were nothing but great to me all the time, 100 percent. But you know, sometimes you have to make a change and things work out differently. … I made great friends over there, and we’re still friends. Now, I’m extremely excited to be part of the Ford family.”
Suarez lost his ride with Joe Gibbs Racing last season and was uncertain about his future after Furniture Row Racing announced that they were shutting down operations and driver Martin Truex Jr moved to JGR to take over driving duties in the number 19 car.
A native of Mexico, Suarez has spent the off season back in Mexico. Speaking on his status Suarez said, “it’s been a really exciting time for me. It’s been a little bit hard as well. A lot of people ask me those questions and I’ve been trying to avoid those answers, but I’m very excited that finally the word is going to be out and I’m going to be able to be more relaxed and more comfortable without feeling like I’m hiding something.
Suarez continued, “I’m just really excited to be a part of Stewart-Haas Racing, a great organization. So far, everybody here has been making me feel at home.”
A classic car enthusiast, Suarez is excited to drive a Mustang; “I’m a car guy, so I’m extremely excited to drive a Ford Mustang. My dad’s first car actually was a Ford Mustang and I feel like it’s now a good excuse for myself to build one.”
Speaking on the newest team member; SHR co-owner Tony Stewart said via a statement, “in each series Daniel has raced in, he’s advanced quickly from rookie to race winner. In four years, he went from the K&N Series to the NASCAR Cup Series. In between, he won an Xfinity Series championship, and he did it all while learning a new language and a new culture. He’s dedicated, he’s talented and we’re proud to have him as a key part of our race team.”