CONCORD, N.C.: Entering the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Daniel Suarez knew that he was pretty much in a must-win situation.
“This is a big week for us. We have already put in a lot of work on Charlotte on the simulator. This Roval race is going to be different for sure.”
Starting in the ninth position to start Stage 1, the No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet driver would battle a very tight race car.
Going into the hairpin corner in turn seven Suarez was the only driver who was locking up their right front tire.
With the team communicating to him that he had to figure out a better way to get around the corner, the Monterey, Mexico native begged the team for input on how to maneuver the turn better.
“What input can you give me going into turn seven?”
The team’s advice was to work on his entry by giving up a little roll speed to get the throttle back down.
Looking to make strides in the second stage, the Trackhouse Racing driver brought his car to pit road for a new set of Goodyear tires, adjustment, and fuel and finished Stage 1 in 19th place.
Going green for the start of Stage 2, Suarez would work his way up to the ninth spot when the caution flag would fly for debris on the track.
Once again, Suarez told his team that he was still having the same problem with the front end of his car.
“The adjustments we made today aren’t helping the back and they are hurting the front,” said a clearly disappointed Suarez.
Sticking with the plan to get stage points the Trackhouse Racing team keeps their driver out on the track, but he gets shuffled around and ends the stage in 14th place.
Unfortunately for Suarez, his woes would continue as he communicated to his team, “I have no brakes.”
As his scheduled pit stop approached at the end of Stage 2, the Chevrolet driver would come to the pit road with the team, telling him that they would investigate his brake issue, but after completing his trip down the pit road, Suarez would be told that he did not have a leak that they could see.
“The reservoir wasn’t low, and we couldn’t see any leaking. It might be a brake pad.”
Back to green, Suarez would slot in at the 32nd position reiterating to his team that he has no pedal. On Lap 62 he would let the team know that there is brake fluid all over the pedal.
“My feet are drenched with brake fluid.”, stated the Trackhouse Racing driver.
Holding on to finish the race but knowing that he would not enter into the coveted Round of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Suarez would finish his day in 31st place.
Not the way he wanted to end his playoff run, Suarez lamented “Honestly, the fact that we’re out of the playoffs, that hurts a little bit. But for me personally, it hurts way more the way we got eliminated. “
“This entire No. 99 Choice Privileges Chevy team works really hard to bring really fast racecars to the track each weekend,” said Suarez after the race.
“This weekend, we just didn’t have it. I feel like we were going to make a little headway, and we were right there, and then we had brake issues.”
Next up for Daniel Suarez is the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 20th, 2024, at 2:30 pm E.T.
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