WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – On the heels of his career-best Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series finish last weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Daniel Suarez credits Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch with helping his No. 19 team improve recently.
The 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion says he and his JGR team have been working more closely with Busch and his No. 18 team over the past month.
“I feel like now we are moving in the right direction,” explained Suarez Saturday at Watkins Glen International. “Kyle is very good. His team is very good, and I mean I would feel very dumb if I don’t take advantage of that if I don’t learn from that.
“For months, I feel like we were not making the right decisions. Earlier in the year I just felt like we didn’t have a lot of speed and we were struggling a little bit. I truly believe that to be fast at the race track, you need to have a fast car out of the hauler. That’s key.
“It’s impossible to make a 20th-place car – when you get the car out of the hauler to make that 20th-place car a winning race car by the end of second practice. That’s impossible. That doesn’t happen because everyone is improving, and you cannot improve that much.”
Entering Sunday afternoons Go Bowling at The Glen, Suarez is outside a Playoff spot and likely needs a win to put him in the post-season events. Last year, the Monterrey, Mexico native finished third – earning his first career Cup top-five at the 2.45-mile course.
With two top-five and five top-10 finishes after 21 races, Suarez said he’s been reviewing Busch’s data throughout the year, but he cannot duplicate Busch’s performance.
“Actually, that was the biggest challenge that we had,” offered Suarez. “I was able to see everything he was doing. I was trying it. I can’t do it. I cannot get into a corner as fast. I cannot brake as little as he is braking and I can’t get to guys as early as he can. What do you want me to do? That was an issue. That takes time.
“The 18 group has been together for a long time and that’s why they’re very good. I bet the No. 4 guys (and Kevin Harvick) are the same and the No. 78 guys (and Martin Truex Jr.) are the same too. It takes time and good chemistry and knowing each other and talent to be as good as those guys are.
“I have a good friendship with Kyle and can go to him with what he’s seeing or doing. He’s always been helpful. We have had good conversations this week about everything. About the balance of the last month and last few months. He has a lot of experience. He always tells me his perspective and how to get better.”
While Suarez insists that the No. 19 performance has improved over the last month, he knows there is still more work to do between now and the end of the season.
“We’re not there yet, but we have one of those guys on our team and we have to take advantage of that and learn from them and try to move forward. In the last four weeks it has been much better for my race team.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
