Lack of Long Run Speed Proves Costly in Disappointing Race.

Date: March 1^st, 2026

Event: DuraMax Texas Grand Prix (Round 3 of 36)

Series: NASCAR Cup Series

Location: Circuit of The Americas (2.4-mile road course)

Format: 95 laps, broken into three stages (20 laps/25 laps/50 laps)

Start/Finish: 23rd / 25th (running, completed 95 of 95 laps)

Point Standing: 7^th with 87 points

Notes:

• Daniel Suárez, driver of the No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports, left Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, with a seventh-place ranking in the driver championship point standings following a third-place finish in Stage 2 in the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne that rewarded the Cup Series veteran with eight bonus points on the day.
• After starting 23rd for Sunday’s race, and after struggling to advance his position into the top 20 during Stage 1, crew chief Ryan Sparks elected to bring Suárez to pit road prior to the stage break for fresh tires and adjustments. The decision placed Suárez in the ninth position for the beginning of Stage 2, ahead of the top-10 finishers in the previous stage.
• Despite a lack of rear grip, Suárez charged forward once Stage 2 began and raced his way into the top five by Lap 24. The Freeway Insurance driver advanced as high as third before the stage end. After pitting at the break for additional adjustments, Suárez started the stage in 28th and pushed into the top 20 before a caution on Lap 76 slowed the field. An incident on the Lap-79 restart caused right front damage to the No. 7 Chevy and relegated Suárez to a 25th-place result.

Daniel Suárez, driver of the No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro for Spire Motorsports:

“The day went as expected. We had a decent Freeway Insurance Chevrolet for the short runs, but during the middle and long runs, it was tough, the car just wanted to stroll. It was difficult to get the tires to perform. Both the front and rear were struggling. We definitely have a bit of work to do to improve our road course package, but I’m looking forward to heading to Phoenix now.”