It is official Daniel Suarez signs with Spire Motorsports for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, marking a huge transition in his career.
The announcement confirms the Mexican-American driver will replace Justin Haley as the driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet, continuing his presence in the sport at the highest level and signifying a fresh opportunity to rejuvenate his racing trajectory.
Suarez remains as the only foreign-born driver to ever secure a national-level title after winning the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.
After joining the Cup Series in 2017, his career path has been marked by stints with several elite teams including Joe Gibbs Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Gaunt Brothers Racing and Trackhouse Racing, reflecting his adaptability and perseverance in a fiercely competitive sport.
For Suárez, this new chapter provides a much-needed opportunity to refocus and leverage his extensive experience to bring both performance and leadership to Spire.
Freeway Insurance which has partnered with the driver since 2021 will follow him to Spire Motorsports and act as the primary sponsor for the No. 7 Chevrolet.
“Spire’s growth over the last few years is quite impressive,” said Suarez in a statement from the team. “That’s something I have mentioned to every single member who I have talked to at Spire Motorsports.
“I’m sure I’m not the only person who can see that and I’m excited to be part of it now. I know that even with the growth Spire has had the last few years, it hasn’t reached its full potential, just yet.
“There is a lot more out there to achieve, and I want to be part of that. I want to be part of that growth and use my experience to help my team, and the entire company continue to grow.”
Suárez joins Spire after a five-year tenure with Trackhouse where he achieved notable success including two Cup Series wins at Sonoma Raceway (2022) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (2024).
However, the 33-year old has endured a challenging season with nine DNFs all due to crashes, culminating in a mutual decision with the team not to extend his contract into 2026.
Suarez sits 29th in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship standings with two top fives and seven top tens, and no wins since the beginning of last year.
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Spire Motorsports, a team that has gradually expanded and evolved since its Cup debut in 2019, sees great potential in adding Suárez to their driver lineup alongside Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar.
“I have a lot of respect for how Daniel has forged his path here and has become a mainstay in the industry and it’s easy to see how he’s done it,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson.
“He has a great attitude and never stops and we look forward to having another veteran for our organization to learn from and bring a new perspective to move the No. 7 team up the grid.”
The team grew to a three-car operation by 2024 but the No. 7 car has struggled with consistency and results in recent years including during Justin Haley’s tenure.
Haley, who took over the ride late in 2024 and raced with Cup champion crew chief Rodney Childers in 2025 was unable to deliver strong finishes, leading to crew chief changes mid-season and eventually Haley’s departure from the team.
As Daniel Suarez signs with Spire Motorsports, Connor Zilisch will replace him at Trackhouse for 2026.
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