With only five races left in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Daniel Suárez is quietly putting together the finest statistical campaign of his 10-year career. Piloting the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in his first year with the organization, the Monterrey, Mexico native boasts an average finish of 15.3. That mark sits nearly a full position ahead of his previous career-best average finish of 16.2, which he posted back in 2017 with Joe Gibbs Racing. The centerpiece of this strong run remains his crown jewel victory in the Coca-Cola 600 back in May.
Despite the career-year numbers, Suárez has yet to officially lock down his driving plans for the 2027 Cup Series season, though a report from The Athletic indicated he will return to Spire next year. When asked about his future at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Suárez offered a straightforward update: "We’re still working on it. We’re pretty close, but we’re still working on that."
I mean this race track to me has always meant a lot just because it’s home, right?
That same weekend carried profound emotional weight for the paddock following a Celebration of Life for Kyle Busch held Friday evening at the track. Thousands of fans packed the frontstretch grandstands to honor Busch as a driver, owner, father, and husband. Suárez, an alumnus of Kyle Busch Motorsports, took the stage alongside Christopher Bell and Noah Gragson to share stories of the stern yet fair feedback Busch dished out as a Truck Series owner. Once Suárez advanced to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, that mentorship continued through weekly phone calls offering advice on upcoming tracks.
The evening culminated in a deeply moving moment when Busch’s son Brexton climbed into his father’s No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet—the very machine Kyle last drove at Dover Motor Speedway prior to his sudden death on May 21—and performed an emotional burnout. Brexton then climbed out, took a checkered flag handed to him by his younger sister Lennix, and bowed to the crowd. "I can’t even imagine what was going through his mind," Suárez said of the young driver. "He was actually doing a burnout in his father’s last Cup ride. Last night was very special for the Busch family."
Suárez's emotional Coke 600 victory had arrived just three days after Busch's passing, sealing a profound bond with the 1.5-mile oval that the driver considers his home track. With family frequently in the stands—including his mother visiting this weekend—the venue holds a singular place in his calendar. "I mean this race track to me has always meant a lot just because it’s home, right?" Suárez noted.
On the championship front, things are a long shot. Suárez sits 14th in points, trailing championship leader Kyle Larson by 195 markers, and the Chase has not gone entirely according to plan with a best finish of 14th coming three times across the last three races. Even so, the No. 7 team is focused entirely on execution as the schedule winds down toward Homestead-Miami Speedway next month. "We have goals, but it’s not a number," Suárez explained. "Most people will think that a goal has to be a number. For us, the goal is to maximize our potential. If we have a 10th-place car, finish 10th or better. If we have a top-five car, finish top five or better."
