Daniel Suárez and the NASCAR Cup Series visit Darlington (S.C.) Raceway for Sunday afternoon’s 400-mile race on the treacherous 1.33-mile, egg-shaped oval.
Sunday marks the 120th Cup race hosted by Darlington and also marks the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR.
Sunday is Mother’s Day as well.
The paint scheme on Suárez’s No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro in Darlington will honor Camping World’s 55th birthday. A paint scheme contest was held on social media with the winning livery selected by Camping World Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis.
The winning entry was designed by Noah Sweet – known on social media as “Lefty.” The Michigan college student plans to pursue a career in NASCAR after graduation.
Suarez arrives at Darlington after an 11th-place finish at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on Sunday. It was his second-best finish of the season. He finished fourth at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on March 29.
Like most, Suárez credits his mother Rosalinda for much of his professional success and would love nothing better than to bring home the Darlington trophy as a Mother’s Day present.
Notes of Interest
In 2016, Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, claiming three victories at Michigan, Dover and the championship finale at Homestead-Miami.
Suárez owns 84 Xfinity Series starts posting three wins, 33 top-five and 55 top-10 finishes.
Suárez owns 28 Camping World Truck Series starts posting a win (Phoenix, Nov. 11, 2016) 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.
In the Cup Series, Suárez owns two poles (Pocono, July 16, 2018), (Kentucky, July 12, 2019.)
Trackhouse co-owner Justin Marks competed in six Cup Series races with a best finish of 12th-place in the 2018 Daytona 500. He made 35 starts in the Xfinity Series posting a win, three top-five and seven top-10s. He won the Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug. 13, 2016 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Marks competed in 38 races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series posting four top-10s and capturing two pole awards. He joined four co-drivers in winning the 2009 Rolex 24 in the GT division.
Before turning a wheel, Trackhouse Racing became one of the more popular teams in NASCAR when it announced GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Pitbull had become a co-owner. Not only will he serve as an active partner on the Trackhouse executive team, but Pitbull also serves as a brand and philanthropic ambassador. Together, Marks and Pitbull will foster the launch of a racing-themed STEM curriculum within the SLAM! (Sports Leadership Arts and Management) inner-city charter schools — which Pitbull helped establish seven years ago.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
